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OF

THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA

LOS ANGELES

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SOUTHERN BRANCH;

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA,

LIBRARY,

LOS ANGELES, CALIF.

THE

PLAYS

O F

WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE,

1 VOL. VII.

THE

PLAYS

O F

WILLIAM SHAKSPEARE.

VOLUME the SEVENTH.

CONTAINING

KING RICHARD III.
KING HENRY VIII.
CORIOLANUS.

LONDON,

Printed for C. Bathurft, W. Strahan, J. F. and C. Rivington,
J. Hinton, L. Davis, W. Owen, T. Caflon, E. Johnfon, S. Crowder,
B. White, T. Longman, B. Law, E. and C. Dilly, G. Corbett,
T. Cadell, H. L. Gardener, J. Nichols, J. Bew, J. Beecroft,
W. Stuart, T. Lowndes, J. Rcbfon, T. Payne, T. Becket,
F. Newbery, G. Robinfon, R. Baldwin, J. Williams, J. Ridley,
T. Evans, W. Davies, W. Fox, and J. Murray,

MDCCLXXVI1I.

30324

RICHARD III.

VOL. VII.

B

Perfons Reprefented.

King Edward IV.

Edward, Prince of Wales, after- ")

wards Edward V. \Sons to Edward -IV.

Richard, Duke of York, J

George, Duke of Clarence, Brother to Edward IV.
A young Son of Clarence.
Richard, Duke of Gloftcr, Brother to Edward IV.

afterwards King Richard III.
Cardinal Bourchier, Arcbbijbop of Canterbury.
ArcWijkop of York.
Bijkop of Ely.
Duke of Buckingham.
Duke of Norfolk. Earl of Surrey.
Earl Rivers, brother to K. Edwards'j Queen.
Marquis of Dorfet, 1 7 r
jWGrc'jr. W^K

Earl of Richmond, afterwards King Henry VII.
Lord Haftings.
Sir Thomas Vaughan.
Sir Richard Ratcliff.

Sir William Catefby.

Sir James Tyrrel.

Lord Stanley.

Earl of Oxford.

Sir James Blount.

Sir Walter Herbert.

Sir Robert Brakenbury, Lieutenant of the Tower.

Chriftopher Urfwick, a Prieft. Another Prieft.

Lord Mayor.

Elizabeth, Queen of Edward IV.

Queen Margaret, Widotvo of Henry VI.

Anne, Widow of Ed ward Prince of Wales, Son to Hen-

ry VI. afterwards married to the Duke of Glofter.
Dutchefs of York, Mother to Edward IV. Clarence

and Richard III.

Sheriff, Purfuivant, Scrivener, Citizens, Ghofts, Soldiers,
and other Attendants.

'LIFE and DEATH.

O F

KING RICHARD III.

. , -

ACT I. SCENE I.

England.

London. A Street.
Enter Richard Duke of Glojler.

Glo. Now is the winter of our difcontent
Made glorious fummer by this fun of York *;

And

1 Life and Death of King Richard III.] This tragedy,
though it 13 called the Life and Death of this prince, comprizes,
at moft, but the laft eight years of his time ; for it opens with
George duke of Clarence being clapped up in the Tower, which
happened in the beginning of the year 14.77 5 a "d clofes with the
death of Richard at Bofworth field, which battle was fought on
the 22d of Auguft, in the year 1485. THEOBALD.

It appears that feveral dramas on the prefent fubjeft had been
written before Shakefpeare attempted it. See the notes at the
conclufion of this play, which was firft enter'd at Stationers' Hall by
Andrew Wife, Oft. 20, 1597, under the title of The Tragedie of
King Richard the Third) with the Death of the Duke of Clarence.
Before this, viz. Aug. i;th, 1586, was entered, A Tragical re-
port of King Richard the Third, a Ballad. It may be necefTary
to remark that the words, fong, ballad, book, enterlude and play y
were often fynonymoufly ufed. STEEVENS.

* 'this fun of Tork ;] Alluding to the cognizance of Ed-

ward IV. which was a fun, in memory of the three funs, which
are faid to have appeared at the battle which he gained over the
Lancastrians at Mortimer's Crofs.

B * So,

4 KING RICHARD fl'L.

And ail the clouds, that lowr'd upon our houfe>
In the deep bofom of the ocean bury'd.
Now are our brows bound with victorious wreaths
Our bruifed arms hungup for monuments ;
Our Item alarums chang'd to merry meetings J ,
Our dreadful marches to delightful meafures.
Grim-vifag'd war hath fmooth'd his wrinkled front ;
And now, inftead of mounting barbed fleeds 4 ,

To

So, in Di'ayton's Miferies of htcen Sfargarrt :

** Threeyft/M were feen that inliant to appear,

" Which loon again fluu themielves up in one,

*' Ready to buckle as the armies were,

** Which this brave duke took to himfelf alone &c."
Again, in the 2id Song of the Polyollion:

" And thankful to high heaven which of his caufe had 1
care,

" Three funs for his device ftill in his enfign bare."
Again, in the Wrighte's Play in the Chefter Collection. M. S. Harl.
1013, the fame prodigy is introduced as attending on a more fo-
lenm event :

** That day was feene veramente

" Three fonnes in the firmament,

*' And wonderly together went

tv And torned into one." STEEVENS.

3 merry meetings,] bo, in The tragical Life and Death of
King Richard the Third) which is one of the metrical monologues
in a collection entitled, The Mir r our of Magijt rates. The nut
edition ot it appeared in 1587, but the lines quoted on the pre-
fent as well as future occaftons throughout this play, are not found
in any copy before that of 16 10, fo that the author was more pro*
bably indebted to Shakefpeare than Shakefpearc to him :

the bat tie if ought infield* before

Were turrfd to meetings of fvjeet auntie ;

The ivar-goJ's tbundnng cannons dreadful rore^
And rattling drum-founds* warlike hannonie^
Tofweet-tnndnoife of pleajlng ninjlrelfie.

God Man laid by his launce, and tookt his luie,
And turned his 1 'iiggcti frow?;ts toftniiin? lookes ;

Injliadof eriMjan fields, wrs fatal fruit,
He bath'd his iimles in Cypris <warlling broolu,
And fet his thoughts upon her wanton lookcs. STFEVENS,

4 barbed ft eeds,] I. Haywarde, in his L :f* a nd Raigne of

IV. | 599, fays, The duke of Hereford came to the barriers,

n a white C9urftr t barbed with blew and green velvet, &c.

KING RICHARD 111. 5

To fright the fouls of fearful adverfaries, -

5 He capers nimbly in a lady's chamber,

To the lafcivious pleating of a lute.

But I, that am not lhapi'd for fportive tricks,

Nor made to court an amorous looking-glafs ;

I, that am rudely ftamp'd, and want love's ma-

jefty,

To ftrut before a wanton ambling nymph ,;
I, that am curtail'd of this fair proportion,

:So, in far vis Maikham's E>igl:Jb Arcadia, 1607 :

" - armed in a black armour, curioufly damafk'd with in-
teminding wreaths of cyprefs and ewe, his larbe upon his horfe,
all or" black abrofetta, cut in broken heopcs upon curled cyprefs."
.Again, in the zd Part or" K.EJwardlV. by Hey wood, 1626 : .
k ' \\ : ith larked horfe, and valiant armed foot."

, however, may be no more than a corruption of larded.
Equus bardatuS) in the Latin of the middle ages, was a horfe
-.adorned with military trappings. I have met with the word
larded many times in our ancient chronicles and romances. An
inflance or t\vo may fuilice. ** They mounted him furely upon
a good and mighty courfer, well barded, &c."

liift. of Helyas Knight of the Swanne^ bl. 1. no date.
Again, in HalFsChronide, King Hairy VIII. p. 4.^:

" appereilled in ryche armure, on a bardt'd courfer &c."
Again, in the Miracles of j\fof?s, by Drayton :

" There floats the bard iteed with his rider drown 'd,

" Whofe foot in his caparifon is caft."
Again, in Warner's Albion s England^ B. VIII. chap. 38 :

" For whether that be trots, or turns, or bounds his

barded fteed."
Again, in Barrett's Aivcarle^ or f^uadrnplr Dictionary , 1^80:

*' Bardts or trappers of horfes. Phalerce, Lat."
Again, Holinfl.eJ fpeaking of the preparations for the battle of
Agincourt: *' - - to the intenc that if the barded horfes ran
fiercely upon them, &c " Again, p. 802, he fays, that bards and
trappers had the fame meaning.

It is obferved in the Turkijh Spy^ that the German cuiraffiers,
though armed and barbed^ man and horfe, were not able to ftand
againit the French .cavalry. STEHVENS.

5 He capers - ] War capers. This is poetical, though a
little harfh ; if it be York that capers, the antecedent is at fuch
a diibnce, that it is ulmuil forgotten, JOHNSON.

B i Cheat-

6 KING RICHARD III.

6 Cheated of feature by diflembling nature,
Deform'd, unfinifti'd/fent before my time
Into this breathing world, fcarce half made up,
And that fo lamely and unfaftiionably,
That dogs bark at me, as I halt by them ;
Why I, in this weak piping time of peace.
Have no delight to pafs away the time ;
Unlefs to fpy my fhadow in the fun,
And defcant on mine own deformity 7 :
And therefore, iince I cannot prove a lover *,
To entertain thefe fairwell-fpoken days,
I am determined to prove a villain,
And 9 hate the idle pleafures of thefe days.
Plots have I laid, ' irfdu&ions dangerous,
By drunken prophefies, libels, and dreams,
To fet my brother Clarence, and the king,
In deadly hate the one againft the other :

' * Cheated of feature ly diflembling nature,] By diffcmlllng is not
meant hypocritical nature, that pretends one thing and does an-
other : but nature that puts together things of a diflknilar kind,
as a brave foul and a deformed body. WAR EUR TON.

JDiJJeml'ling is here put very licentioufly iorfraudful, deceitful:

JOHNSON.

7 And defcant on mine own deformity:'} Defcant is a term in
Tnufic, fignifying in general that kind of harmony wherein one
part is broken and formed into a kind of paraphrafe on the other.
The propriety and elegance of the above figure, without fuch an
idea of the nature of defcant^ could not be difcerned.

Sir J. HAWKINS.

8 And therefore, Jince I cannot prove a lover,'] Shakefpeare very
diligently inculcates, that the wickednefs of Richard proceeded
from his deformity, from the envy that rofe at the comparifon of
his own perfon with others, and which incited him to difturb the
pleafures that he could not partake. JOHNSON.

9 And hate the idle pleafures ] Perhaps we might read :

Andbztt the idle pleafures JOHNSON.

i'ldu ftions dangerous, ] Preparations for mifchief. The

jnetufiion is preparatory to the action of the play. JOHNSON.

Marfton hus put this line, with little variation, into the mouth
of Fame :

" Plots ha' you laid ? inductions dangerous ?"

STEEVENS.

An4

KING RICHARD III. 7

And, if king 1 Edward be as true and jufl,
As I am fubtle, falfe, and treacherous,
This day fhould Clarence clofely be mew'd up ;
About a prophefy, which fays that G
Of lidward's heirs the murderer fhall be.
Dive, thoughts, down to my foul ! here Clarence
comes.

Enter Clarence guarded, and Brakenbury.

Brother, good day : What means this armed guard,
That waits upon your grace ?

Clar. His majeity,

Tendering my perfon's fafety, hath appointed
This conduct to convey me to the Tower.

Glo. Upon what caufe ?

Cla. Becaufe my name is George.

Glo. Alack, my lord, that fault is none of yours;

He fhould, for that, commit your godfathers :

O, belike, his majefty hath fome intent,

That you fliould be new chriften'd in the Tower.

But what's the matter, Clarence ? may I know ?

Clar. Yea, Richard, when I know ; for, I proteft,
As yet I do not : But, as I can learn,
He hearkens after prophefies, and dreams ;
And from the crofs-row plucks the letter G,
And fays a wizard told him, that by G
His iffue difinherited fhculd be ;
And, for my name of George begins with G J ,
It follows in his thought, that I am he :

z Edward be as true and juft,] i.e. as open-hearted and
free from deceit. WARBURTON.
The meaning is only this ; if Edward keeps his word.

JOHNSON.

3 And, for my name of George begins with G, &c.] Sp, in Ni-
cols's Tragical Life and Death of Richard III :
" By that blind riddle of the letter G,
" George loll his life ; it took effeft in me." STEEVENS.

B 4 Thefe,

8 KING RICHARD III,

Thefe, as I learn, and fuch like toys as thefe *,
Have mov'd his highnefs to commit me now.

Glo. Why, this it is, when men are rul'd by

women :

J Tis not the king, that fends you to the Tower ;
My lady Grey his wife, Clarence, 'tis flie,
That tempts him to this harfli extremity,
\Vas it not fhe, and that good man of worlhip,
Anthony Woodeville, her brother there,
That made him fend lord Haftings to the Tower;
From whence this prefent day he is deliver'd ?
We are not fafe, Clarence, we are not fafe,

Clar. By heaven, I think, there is no man fecure,
But the queen's kindred, and night-walking heralds
That trudge betwixt the king and miftrefs Shore.
Heard you not, what an humble fuppliant
Lord Haflings was to her for his delivery ?

Glo. s Humbly complaining to her deity
Got my lord chamberlain his liberty.
I'll tell you what, I think, it is our way,
Jf we will keep in favour with the king,
To be her men, and wear her livery :
6 The jealous o'er-worn widow, and herfelf,
Since that our brother dubb'd them gentlewomen^
Are mighty goffips in this monarchy.

Erak. I befeech your graces both to pardon me ;
His majefty hath ftraitly given in charge,
That no man lhall have private conference,
Of what degree foever, with his brother.

Glo. Even fo ? an pleafe your worlhip, Brakenbury,
You may partake of any thing we fay ;
We fpeak no treafon, man ;- We fay, the king
Is wife, and virtuous ; and his noble queen

* ^~^ ys ~^ Fancles f rea ks of imagination. JOHNSON.

Humbly complaining &c.] I think thefe two lines might be
better given to Clarence. JOHNSON.

6 ne jealous o'er-worn w/Vfcw, and btrfelf^ ThaKs. the queen
and Shore. JOHNSON.

Well

KING RICHARD III. 9

Well ftruck in years 7 ; fair, and not jealous :
We fay, that Shore's wife hath a pretty foot,
A cherry lip, a bonny eye, a pafling pleafing tongue ;
That the queen's kindred are made gentle-folks :
How fay you, fir ? can you deny all this ?

Brak. With this, my lord, myfelf have nought

to do.
Gk. Naught to do with miftrefs Shore ? I tell thee,

fellow,

He that doth naught with her, excepting one,
Were beft to do it fecretly, alone.
Brak. What one, my lord ?
Gk. Her hufband, knave : Would'ft thou betray

me ?
Brak* I befeech your grace to pardon me ; and,

withal,
Forbear your conference with the noble duke.

Gar. We know thy charge, Brakenbury, and will

obey.

Glo. We are the 8 queen's abjedls, and muft obey.
Brother, farewel : I will unto the king ;
And whatfoe'er you will employ me in,
Were it, to call king Edward's widow fifler 9 ,

I will

7 #V/ftruck In years ;] This odd expreilion in our language
was preceded by one as uncouth though of a fimilar kind.

* Well ft\o\. in years he feentd &c.] Spenfer's F< Queen, B. V.
c. vi : The meaning of neither is very obvious ; but as Mr. War-
ton has obferved in his EfTay on the Faery >t!ecn, by an imper-
ceptible progreffion from one kindred fenfe to another, words at
length obtain a meaning entirely foreign to their original etymo-
logy. STEEVENS.

8 the queen's aljefls ] That is, not the queen's

fuljefls, whom fhe might proteft, but her abjefts, whom (he drives

away. JOHNSON.

9 Were it to call king E(hjard'sividov jifter,~] This is a very
covert and fubtle manner of iufmuating treaibn. The natural
exprelfion would have been, <- Mcrc // t o call .kixg Edward's wife,

jifter. I will folicit for you, though it fliould be at the expence
of ib much degradation and conilraint, us to own the low-born
wife of King lidvyard for a fitter. But by Hipping, as it were

cafually,

io KING RICHARD III.

I will perform it, to enfranchife you.

Mean time, this deep difgrace in brotherhood,

Touches me deeper than you can imagine. ,-,, .*

Clar. I know, it pleafeth neither of us well.

Clo. Well, your imprifonment fhall not be long ;
I will deliver you, or elfe lye for you :
Mean time, have patience.

Clar. I mud perforce ' ; farewel.

[Exeunt Clarence and Rrakeiibury.

Glo. Go, tread the path that thou lhalt ne'er return,
Simple, plain Clarence ! I do love thee fo,
That I will ftiortly fend thy foul to heaven,
If heaven will take the prefent at our hands.
But who comes here ? the new-deliver'd Haftings ?

Enter Haftings.

Haft. Good time of day unto my gracious lord

Glo. As much unto my good lord chamberlain !
Well are you welcome to this open air.
How hath your lordfhip brook'd imprifonment ?

Haft. With patience, noble lord, as prifoners mud :
But I fliall live, my lord, to give them thanks,
That were the caufe of my imprifonment.

Glo. No doubt, no doubt ; and fo fliall Clarence

too ;

For they, that were your enemies, are his,
And have prevail'd as much on him, as you.

Hajl. More pity, that the eagle Ihould be mew'd %

While

cafually, ciuV&w, into the place of wife, he tempts Clarence
with an oblique propofal to kill the king. JOHNSON.

King Edward's widow is, I believe, only an expreffion of con-
tempt, meaning the widow Grey, whom Edward had chofen for
his queen. Glofter has already called her, the jealous overworn
iviiiew. STEEVENS.

' I muft perforce.] Alluding to the proverb, " Patience per-
force is a medicine tor a mad dog." STEEVENS.

* Jhouldbc mew'd,] A 7u was the place of confinement

where a hawk was kept till he had moulted. So, in Albumazar :

" Stand

KING RICHARD III. u

While kites and buzzards prey at liberty.

Glo. What news abroad ?

Haft. No news fo bad abroad, as this at home ;
The king is fickly, weak, and melancholy,
And his phyficians fear him mightily.

Glo. Now, by faint Paul 3 , that news is bad indeed.
O, he hath kept an evil diet long,
And over-much confum'd his royal perfon ;
'Tis very grievous to be thought upon.
What, is he in his bed ?

Haft. He is.

Glo. Go you before, and I will follow you.

[Exit Haftings.

He cannot live, I hope ; and muft not die,
'Till George be pack'd with poft-horfe up to heaven.
I'll in, to urge his hatred more to Clarence,
With lies well fteel'd with weighty arguments;
And, if I fail not in my deep intent,
Clarence hath not another day to live :
Which done, God take king Edward to his mercy,
And leave the world for me to buftle in !
For then I'll marry Warwick's youngeft daughter :
W T hat though I kill'd her hufband, and her father ?
The readied way to make the wench amends,
Isto become her hufband, and her father :
The which will I ; not all fo much for love,
As for another fecret clofe intent,
By marrying her, which I muft reach unto.
But yet I run before my horfe to market :
Clarence flill breathes ; Edward ftill lives, and reigns;
When they are gone, then muft I count my gains.

[Exit.

" Stand forth, transform'd Antonio, fully mevfd
" From brown foar feathers of dull yeomanry,
" To the glorious bloom of gentry." STEEVENS,
] The "

* Now, ly faint Paul, ] The folio reads :

AW, ly faint John, STEEVENS.

SCENE

it KING RICHARD HI.

SCENE II.

Another Street.

Enter tie corfe of Henry the fixth, with halberds t9
guard it ; Lady Awe being the mourner.

Ame. Set down, fet down your honourable load,
If honour may be fhrouded in a hearfe,
Whilft I a while obfequjoufly lament *
The untimely fall of virtuous Lancafter.
Poor key-cold figure 5 of a holy king J
Pale afhes of the houfe of Lancafter !
Thou bloodlefs remnant of that royal blood !
Be it lawful that I jnvocate thy ghoft,
To hear the lamentations pf poor Anne,
Wife to thy Edward, to thy flaughter'd fon,
Stabb'd by the felf-fame hand that made thcfe

wounds !

Lo, in thefe windows, that let forth thy life,
I pour the helplefs balm of my poor eyes :
O, curfed be the hand, that made thefe holes !
Curfed the heart, that had the heart to doit !
Curfed the blood, that let this blood from hence J
More direful hap betide that hated wretch,
That makes us wretched by the death of thee,
Than I can wifti to adders, fpiders, toads,

* obfequioufly lament'} Ol>fcquious t in this inftance, means

fuweaL So, in Hamlet, a<5t I. fc. ii :

'*. To do obfec]uiousyj>rr/>w." STEEVENS.

s key -cold] A key, on account of the coldnefs of the

metal of which it is compoled, was anciently employed to flop
any llight bleeding. The epithet is common to many old writers ;
among the^reft, it is ufed by Decker in his Satiramafrix :

*' It is heft you hide your head, for fear your wife brain*
take key-cold"
Again, in the Country G/r/, by T. B. 1647 :

" The key-cold figure of a man." STEEVENS.

Or

KING RICHARD III. 13

Or any creeping venom'd thing that lives I

If ever he have child, abortive be it,

Prodigious, and untimely brought to light,

Whole ugly and unnatural afpedt

May fright the hopeful mother at the view 3

And that be heh\to his unhappinefs !

If ever he have wife, let her be made

More miferable by the death of him,

Than I am made by my young lord, and thee ! *

Come, now, toward Chertfey with, your holy load,

Taken from Paul's to be interred there ;

And, ftill as you are weary of the weight,

Reft you, whiles I lament king Henry's corfe.

Enter Glo/ler*

Glo. Stay you, that bear the corfe, and fet it down.

Anne* What black magician conjures up this fiend,
To flop devoted charitable deeds ?

Glo. Villains, fet down the corfe ; or y by faint Paul,
I'll make a corfe of him that difobeys J .

Gen. My lord, ftand back, and let the coffin pafs*

Glo. Unmanner'd dog f ftand thou when- I com-
mand ;

Advance thy halberd higher than my breaft,
Or, by faint Paul, I'll ftrike thee to my foot,
And fpurn upon thee, beggar, for thy boldnefs.

Anne. What, do you tremble ? are you all afraid ?
Alas, I blame you not ; for you are mortal,
And mortal eyes cannot endure the devil.
A vaunt, thou dreadful minifter of hell !
Thou had'Jft but power over his mortal body,
His foul thou canft not have ; therefore, be gone.

Glo. Sweet faint, for charity, be not fo curll.

Anne. Foul devil, for God's fake, hence, and
trouble us not ;

5 III make a corfe of him that Jifoleys.'] So, in Hamlet I
44 /'// make a ghojl of him that lets me ." JOHNSO.Y.

For

i 4 KING RICHARD III.

For thou haft made the happy earth thy hell,

Fill'd it with curfing cries, and deep exclaims,

If thou delight to view thy heinous deeds,

Behold this pattern of thy butcheries : 6

Oh, gentlemen, fee, fee ! dead Henry's wounds

Open their congeal'd mouths, and bleed afrefti ! - 7

Blufh, bluih, thou lump of foul deformity ;

For 'tis thy prefence that exhales this blood

From cold and empty veins, where no blood dwells ;

Thy deed, inhuman, and unnatural,

Provokes this deluge moft unnatural.

6 pattern of thy butcheries :~\ Pattern is injlance, or example.

JOHNSON.

Holinfhed fays : " The dead corps on the Afceniion even was
conveied with billes and glaives pompouflie (if you will call that
a funerall pompe) from the Tower to the church of faint Paule,
and there laid on a beire or coffen bare-faced ; the fame in the
prefence of the beholders did bleed ; where it relied the fpace of
one whole daie. From thenfe he was carried to the Biack-fricrs,
and bled there likewife ; &c." STEEVENS.

7 fee, dead Henry 9 3 -wounds,

Optn their congeal* d mouths, and bleed afrejli ! ]
It is a tradition very generally received, that the murdered body
bleeds on the touch of the murderer. This was fo much be-
lieved by fir Kenelm Digby that he has endeavoured to explain
the rcafon. JOHNSON.

So, in Arden of Fever/ham, 1592 :

The more I found his name, the more he bleeds :
4 This blood condemns me, and in gufliing forth
" Speaks as it falls, and afks me why I did it."
Again, in the Widow's Tears, by Chapman, 1612 :

" The captain will aflay an old conclufion often approved ;
that at the murderer's fight the blood revives again and boils
afreih ; and every wound has a condemning voice to cry out guilty
againft the murderer."

Again, in the 46th Idea of Dray ton :

41 If the vile afters of the heinous deed,
* Near the dead body happily be brought,
" Oft t'hath been prov'd the breathlefs corps will Meed."
Mr. Toilet obferves that this opinion feems to be derived from
the ancient Swedes, or Northern nations from whom we defcend ;
for they pratfifed this method of trial in dubious cafes, as ap-
pears from Pitt's Atlas y in Sweden, p. 20, STEEVENS.

O God !

KING RICHARD III. 15

O God, which this blood mad'ft, revenge his death !
O earth, which this blood drink'ft, revenge his death !
Either, heaven, with lightning ftrike the murderer

dead,

Or, earth, gape open wide, and eat him quick ;
.As thou doit fwallow up this good king's blood,
Which his hell-govern'd arm hath butchered !

Glo. Lady, you know no rules of chanty,
Which renders good for bad, bleffings for curfes.

Anne. Villain, thou know'ft no law of God nor

man ;
No beaft fo fierce, but knows fome touch of pity.

Glo. But I know none, and therefore am no beaft.

Anne. O wonderful, when devils tell the truth !

Glo. More wonderful, when angels are fo angry.
Vouch fafe, divine perfection of a woman,
-Of thefe fuppofed evils, to give me leave,
By circumftance, but to acquit myfelf.

Anne. 8 Vouchfafe, diffus'd infection of a man,
For thefe known evils, but to give me leave,
By circumftance, to curfe thy curfed felf.

Glo. Fairer than tongue can name thee, let me have
Some patient leifure to excufe rnyfelf.

Anne. Fouler than heart can think thee,, thou canft

make
No excufe current, but to hang thyfelf.

Glo. By fuch defpair, I Ihould accufe myfelf.

8 Vouchfafe, diffus'd infe Rion of a ;//,] I believe, dijfufd'm
this place fignifies irregular, uncouth ; fuch is its meaning in other
paflages of Shakefpeare. JOHNSON.

Diffiis'd infeflion of a man may mean, thou that art as danger-
ous as a peililence, that infecls the air by its diffufion. Diffufd
may, however, mean irregular. So, in 'The Merry Wives ^ &c,

" rufti at once

" With fome dlffufed fong. J '
Again, in Green's Farewell to Follie, 1617 :

" I have feen an Englifh gentleman {odefufed in his futes ; his
doublet being for the wears of Caftile, his hole for Venice, &c.'-*

STEEVENS.

Anne.

16 KING RICHARD III.

Anne. And, by defpairing, malt thou fland excus'd
For doing worthy vengeance on thyfelf,
That didfl unworthy Daughter upon others.

Glo. Say, that I flew them not ?

Anne. Then fay, they were not flam :
But dead they are, and, devilifh flave, by thee.

Glo. I did not kill your hufband.

Anne. Why, then he is alive*

Glo. Nay, he is dead ; and flain by Edward's hand.

Anne* In thy foul throat thou ly'fl ; queen Mar-

garet faw

Thy murderous faulchion fmcking in his blood ;
The which thou once didfl bend againfl her breafl,
But that thy brothers beat afide the point.

Glo. I was provoked by her fland'rous tongue,
9 That laid their guilt upon my guiltlefs moulders^

Anne. Thou waft provoked by thy bloody mind,
That never dreamt on aught but butcheries :
Didfl thou not kill this king ?

Glo. I grant ye.

Anne. Dofl grant me, hedge-hog ? then, God grant

me too,

Thou may'fl be damned for that wicked deed !
O, he was gentle, mild, and virtuous '.

Glo. The fitter for the King of heaven that hath
him.

Anne. He is in heaven, where thou lhalt never
come.

Glo. Let him thank me, that hoip to fend him

thither ;
For he was fitter for that place, than earth.

9 That laid their guilt ] The crime of my brothers. He

has juft charged the murder of lady Anne's hufband upon Ed-
ward. JOHNSON.

1 O, he ivas gentle, mild, and 'virtuous.
Glo. The Jitter for the king of heaven, &c.]
So, in Pericles Prince of Tyre, 1 609 :

" I'll do't : but yet (he is a goodly creature.
" Dion. The fitter then the gods Ihould have her." STEEVENS.

Anne,

KING RICHARD III. 17

Anne. And thou unfit for any place, but hell.

Gh. Yes, one place elfe, if you will hear me
name it.

Anne. Some dungeorh

Glo. Your bed-chamber.

Anne. Ill reft betide the chamber where thou lyeft !

Glo. So will it, madam, 'till I lie with you.

Anne. I hope fo.

Glo. I know fo, But, gentle lady Anne,^
To leave this keen encounter of our wits,
And fall fomewhat into a flower method 5 ;-
Is not the caufer of the timelefs deaths
Of thefe Plantagenets> Henry, and Edward,
As blameful as the executioner ?

Anne. 6 Thou waft the caufe, and moft accuts'd
erTed:.

Gh. Your beauty was the caufe of that effedt ;
Your beauty, which did haunt me in myileep,
To undertake the death of all the world,
So I might live one hour in your fweet bofom.

Anne. If I thought that, I tell thee, homicide,

a a flower method', ] As quick was ufed tot fyrigljtfy fo

Jliruier was put forfenous. In the next fcene lord Grey deiires
the queen to

cheer his grace with quick and merry words.

STEEVENS.

3 Thou waft the caufe, and moft accur? d effect ;] Ejfefl, for exe-
cutioner. He alks, was not the caufer as ill as the executioner f
She anfwers, Thou waft both. But, for caufer, ufmg the word
<aufe, this led her to the word tff:&, for ex;cution, or execrittonefi.
But the Oxford editor, troubling himfelf with nothing of this,
will make a fine oratorical period of it :

Thou *wajl the caujc. And mojl accurfd til* effefl /

WAR BUR TON.

I cannot but be rather of fir T. Hanmer's opinion than Dr.
Warburton's, becaufe ejefl is ufed immediately in its common
fenfe, in anfwer to this line. JOHXSOX.

I believe the old reading is the true one, So, in the TorliJJiirt
Trizptt/Vj 1608 :

thou art the caufe,

" fffitf, quality, property ; thou, thou." STEVEVS.

VOL. VII. C Thefc

18 KING RICHARD M,

Thefe nails fhould rend that beauty from my cheeks.

Glo. Thefc eyes could not endure that beauty's

wreck,

You Ihould not blemifh it, if I flood by :
As all the world is cheered by the fun,
So I by that ; it is my day, my life.

Anne. Black night a r er-fliade thy day, and death
thy life f

Glo. Curfe not thyfelf, fair creature ; thou art both.

Anne. I would I were, to be reveng'd on thee.

Glo. It is a quarrel molt unnatural,
To be reveng'd on him that loveth thee.

Anne. It is a quarrel juft and reafonable,
To be reveng'd on him that kill'd my hufband.

Glo. He that bereft thee, lady, of thy hufband,
Did it to help thee to a better hufband.

Anne. His better doth not breathe upon the earth,

Glo. He lives, that loves you better than he could,

Anne. Name him.

Glo. Plantagenet.

Anne. Why, that was he.

Glo. The felf-fame name, but one of better nature^

Anne. Where is he ?

Glo. Here : [Sbefpits at him.~] W T hy doft thou fpit
at me ?

Anne. Would it were mortal poifon, for thy fake I

Glo. Never came poifon from fo fweet a place.

Anne. Never hung poifon on a fouler toad.
Out of my fight ! thou doft infedt mine eyes.

Glo. Thine eyes, fweet lady, have infedted mine.

Anne. 'Would they were bafililks, to ftrike thee
dead!

Glo. I would they were, that I might die at once ;
For now they kill me with a living death *.

4 dy %M e with a living dcatl.~\ In imitation of thi*

paflage,^and, I fuppofe, of a thoufand more, Pope writes :

< living death Ilear^
? Say t Doff t n\iit t and funk Itfd* bis char." JOH.VSOK.

Thofc

KING RICHARD Ilf. 19

Thofe eyes of thine from mine have drawn fait tears*
Sham'd their afpe&s with itore of childifli drops :
5 Thefe eyes, which never ihed remorfeful tear,
Not, when my father York and Edward wept,
To hear the piteous moan that Rutland made,
When black-fac'd Clifford fhook his fword at him :
Nor when thy warlike father, like a child,
Told the fad ftory of my father's death ;
And twenty times made paufe, to fob, and weep,
That all the flanders-by had wet their cheeks,
Like trees bedafh'd with rain : in that fad time,
My manly eyes did fcorn an humble tear ;
And what thefe forrows could not thence exhale,
Thy beauty hath, and made them blind with weeping.
I never fu'd to friend, nor enemy ;
My tongue could never learn fweet foothing word ;
But now thy beauty is proposed my fee,
My proud heart fues, and prompts my tongue to fpeak.
[She looks fcornfully at him.
Teach not thy lip fuch fcorn ; for it was made
For killing, lady, not for fuch contempt.
If thy revengeful heart cannot forgive,
Lo ! here I lend thee this lharp-pointed fword ;
Which if thou pleafe to hide in this true breaft,
And let the foul forth that adoreth thee,
I lay it naked to the deadly ftroke,
And humbly beg the death upon my knee.

[He lays bis breaft open, jhe offers at it with his fword.
Nay, do not paufe ; for I did kill king Henry ;
6 But 'twas thy beauty that provoked me.
Nay, now difpatch ; 'twas I that ftabb'd young Ed-
ward ;

5 T7jefe eyes, which never &c.] The twelve following beauti-
ful lines added after the firft editions. POPE.

They were added with many more. JOHNSON.

6 But 'twas thy beauty ; ] Shakefpeare countenances

the obfervation, that no woman can ever be offended with the
mention of her beauty. JOHNSON.

C a But

20 KING RICHARD III.

But 'twas thy heavenly face that fet me on.

[She lets fall the faoret.
Take up the fword again, or take up me.

Anne. Arife, diflembler ; though I wifh thy death,
I will not be thy executioner.

Glo. Then bid me kill myfelf> and I will x3o it.

Anne. I have already.

Glo. That was in thy rage :
Speak it again, and, even with the word,
This hand, which for thy love, did kill thy love.,
Shall, for thy love,, kill a far truer love ;
To both their deaths- lhalt thou be acceffary.

Anne. I would, I knew thy heart.

Glo. 'Tis figur'd in my tongue,

Anne. I fear me, both are falfe^

Glo. Then never man was true.

Anne. Well, well, put up your fword.

Glo. Say then, my peace is made.

Anne. That fhall you know hereafter.

Glo. But fhall I live in hope ?

Anne. All men, I hope, live fo.

Glo. Vouchfafe to wear this ring.

[&* puts on the ring.

Anne. To take is not to give.

Glo. Look, how this ring encompafTeth thy ringer,
Even fo thy breafl enclofeth my poor heart ;
Wear both of them, for both of them are thine.
And if thy poor devoted fervant may
But beg one favour at thy gracious hand,
Thou doll confirm his happinefs for ever.

Anne. What is it ?

Glo. That it may pleafe you kavc thefe fad dcfigns
To him that hath more caufe to be a mourner,
And prefemly repair to Crofbv-placc 7 :

Where

7 Crojly -place:} A houfe near Blfhopfgate-ftreet, belong-
ing to the duke of Glorter. JOHN-SOV.

Cro/by-PIace is now Cr/^-fijuare in Bifhopfgate-ftreet ; part of

the

KING RICHARD III. 21

Where after I have folemnly interr'd,
At Chcrtfey monaft'ry this noble king,
And wet his grave with my repentant tears,
I will with all expedient duty fee you :
For divers unknown reafons, I befeech you,
Grant me this boon.

Anne. With all my heart ; and much it joys me too,
To fee you are become fo penitent.
Treflel, and Berkley, go along with me.

Glo. Bid me farewel.

Anne. 'Tis more than you deferve :
But, fince you teach me how to flatter you
8 Imagine I have faid farewel already.

[Exeunt two, with lady Anne.

Glo. Take up the corfe, firs.

Gen. Towards Chertfey, noble lord ?

Glo. No, to White-Fryars ; there attend -my
coming. [Exeunt tJ:e reft, with tl:e corfe.
Was ever woman in this humour woo'd
Was ever woman in this humour won ?
I'll have her, but I will not keep her long.
What ! I, that kill'd her hufband, and his father,
To take her in her heart's extremeft hate ;
With curies in her mouth, tears in her eyes,
The bleeding witnefs of her hatred by ;
With God, her confcience, and thefe bars againft me,
And I no friends to back my fair withal,
But the plain devii, and diitcmbHng looks,
And yet to win her, all the world to nothing !
Ha!
Hath Ihe forgot already that brave prince,

the houfe is yet remaining, and is a meeting place for a pre'by-

terian congregation. Sir J. HAWKINS.

8 Imagine, I have J'^iA fare-wel already.] Gibber, who altered

Rich. III. tor the ibige, was fo thoro'jgtily convinced of the ri-

diculoufnefs and improbability of this icene, that he thought him-

iclf obliged to make TreHel lay :

When future chrmicks Jbatt fpcnk of this,
yby will be thought romance, not ijifijrj. ST

c 3

ft2 KING RICHARD III.

Edward, her lord, whom I, fome three months firice,

Stabb'd in my angry mood at Tewkfbury ?

A fweeter and a lovelier gentleman,

9 Fram'd in the prodigality of nature,

Young, valiant, wife, and, no doubt, right

royal ',

The fpacious world cannot again afford :
And will Ihe yet abafe her eyes on me,
That cropp'd the golden prime of this fweet prince^
And made her widow to a woeful bed ?
On me, whofe all not equals Edward's moiety ?
On me, that halt, and am mifhapen thus ?
My dukedom to a beggarly denier,
I do miftake my perfon all this while :
Upon my life, Ihe finds, although I cannot,
Myfelf to be a marvellous proper man.
I'll be at charges for a looking-glafs ;
And entertain a fcore or two of taylors,
To ftudy fafhions to adorn my body :
Since I am crept in favour with myfelf,
I will maintain it with fome little coft.
But, firft, Til turn yon' fellow in his grave ;
And then return lamenting to my love.

9 Framed in the prodigality of nature,"] i. e. when nature was iQ
a prodigal or lavifli mood. WARBURTON.

1 ar.d, no doubt ) right royal, ] Of the degree of royalty-
belonging to Henry the fixth there could be no doubt, nor could
Richard have mentioned it with any fuch hefitation ; he could
not indeed very properly allow him royalty. I believe we mould,
read ;

and, no doubt, right loyal.

That is, true to her bed. He enumerates the reafons for which
Ihe mould love him. He VMS young, wife, and valiant', thefe
were apparent and indifputable excellencies. He then mentions
another not lefs likely to endear him to his wife, but which he had
lefs opportunity of knowing with certainty, and, no doubt right
loyal. JOHNSON.

Richard is not fpeaking of king Henry, but of Edward hisfon,
whom he means to reprefent as/W/ of all the noble properties of a
fag. No doubt ,^ right royal, may, however, be ironically fpoken,
alluding to the incontinence of Margaret, his mother, STEEVENS.

Shine

KING RICHARD III. t s

Shine out, fair fun, 'till I have bought a glafs,
That I .may fee my lhadow as I pafs. [Exit.

SCENE HI.

*Tbe palace.

Enter the Qyeen, Lord Rivers her brother, and Lord
-Grey her fon*

Riv. Have patience, madam ; there's no doubt,

his majefty
Will foon recover his accuftom'd health,

Grey. In that you brook it ill, it makes him worfe :
Therefore, for God's fake, entertain good comfort,
And chear his grace with quick and merry words.

Queen. If he were dead, what would betide of me ?

Grey. No other harm, but lofs of fuch a lord.

Queen. The lofs of fuch a lord includes all harms.

Grey. The heavens have blefs'd you with a goodly

fon,
To be your comforter, when he is gone.

Queen. Ah, he is young ; and his minority
Is put into the truft of Richard Glofter,
A man that loves not me, nor none of you.

Riv. Is it concluded, he fliall be protector ?

Queen. l It is determined, not concluded ye-t :
But fo it mufl be, if the king mifcarry.

Enter Buckingham, and Stanley.

Grey. Here come the lords of Buckingham and
Stanley '.

Buck.

a It is determin'd, not concluded yct:~\ Determined fignifies the
fiaal conclufion of the will : concluded, what cannot be altered by
reafon of fome adl, confequent on the final judgment.

WAR BUR TON.

3 Here come the krds of Buckingham and Derby.j'This is a blun-
C 4 der

z 4 KING RICHARD III.

Buck. Good time of day unto your royal grace !
Stanley. God make your majefty joyful as you have

been !
gueen. The countefs Richmond, good my lord of

Stanley,

To your good prayer will fcarcely fay amen.
Yet, Stanley, notwithftanding flic's your wife,
And loves not me, be you, good lord, affur'd,
I hate not you for her proud arrogance.

Stanley. I do befeech you, either not believe
The envious fianders of her falfe accufers ;
Or, if fhe be accus'd on true report,
Bear with her weaknefs, which, I think, proceeds
From wayward ficknefs, and no grounded malice.
gtueen. Saw you the king to-day, my lord of

Stanley ?

Stanley. But now the duke of Buckingham, and I,
Are come from vifiting his majefty.
, Queen. What likelihood of his amendment, lords?
Buck. Madam, good hope ; his grace fpeaks chear-

fully.
Queen. God grant him health ! Did you confer

with him ?

Buck. Ay, madam : he defires to make atonement*
Between the duke of Glofter and your brothers,

<ler of inadvertence, which has run through the whole chain of
impretfions. It could not well be original in Shakefpeare, who
was moft minutely intimate with his hiftory, and the intermar-
riages of the nobility. The perfon here called Derby, was Tho-
mas lord Stanley, lord fleward of king Edward the fourth's houf-
hqld. But this Thomas lord Stanley was not created earl of Derby
till after the acceffion of Henry the ieventh ; and accordingly,
afterwards, in the fourth and fifth ads of this play, before the
battle of Boiworth-field, he is every where called lord Stanley.
This fufficiently juflifies the change I have made in his title.

THEOBALD.

4 /fy, mactam : he drftres to make atonement] Thus all the old,
editions that I have feen ; but Mr. Pope altered it thus :

" Madam, we did ; he feeks to make atonement ;'*
anj h:is been followed by fucceedin^ editors. STEEVENS.

KING RICHARD III. 25

And between them and my lord chamberlain ;
And fent to warn them 5 to his royal prefence.

Queen. 'Would all were well ! But that will never

be;
I fear, our happinefs is at the height.

Enter Gbfter, Haft'ings, and Dorfet.

Glo. They do me wrong, and I will not endure

it :

Who are they, that complain unto the king,
That I, forfooth, am ftern, and love them not ?
By holy Paul, they love his grace but lightly,
That fill his ears with fuch difientious rumours.
Becaufe I cannot flatter, and fpeak fair,
Smile in men's faces, fmooth, deceive, and cog,
Duck with French nods and apifh courtefy,
I muft be held a rancorous enemy.
Cannot a plain man live, and think no harm,
But thus his fimple truth muft be abus'd
By filken, fly, infinuating Jacks ?

Grey. To whom in all this prefence fpeaks your
grace ?

Glo. To thee, rtiat hart nor honefty, nor grace.
When have I injur'd thee ? when done thee wrong ?
Or thee ? or thee ? or any of your faction ?
A plague upon you all ! His royal grace,
Whom God preferve better than you would wifli !
Cannot be quiet fcarce a breathing while,
But you muft trouble him with lewd complaints.

vtyeen. Brother of Glofter, you miftake the matter :
The king of his OWQ royal difpofition,
And not provok'd by any fuitor elfe ;
Aiming, belike, at your interior hatred,
That in your outward action fliews itfelf,
Againft my children, brothers, and myfelf ;

9 ii ~to warn tbem~\ i. e. to fummon. So, in Julius Cafar :
*' They mean to warn us at Philippi here." STEEVENS.

Makes

*6 KING RICHARD III.

Makes him to fend ; that thereby he may gather
The ground of your ill-will 6 , and fo remove it.

Glo. I cannot tell ; The world is grown fo bad,
That wrens may prey where eagles dare not perch :
Since every Jack became a gentleman,
There's many a gentle perfon made a Jack.

Queen. Come, come, we know your meaning,

brother Glofler ;

You envy my advancement, and my friends :
God grant, we never may have need of you !

Glo. Meantime, God grants that we have need of

you :

Our brother is imprifon'd by your means,
Myfelf difgrac'd, and the nobility
Held in contempt ; while great promotions
Are daily given, to enoble thofe
That fcarce, fome two days lince, were worth a noble.

Queen. By Him, that rais'd me to this careful height
From that contented hap which I enjoy'd,
I never did incenfe his majefly
Againft the duke of Clarence, but have been
An earneft advocate to plead for him.
My lord, you do me fhameful injury,
Falfely to draw me in thefe vile fufpe&s.

Glo. You may deny that you were not the caufe
Of my lord Haftings' late imprifonment.

Riv. She may, my lord ; for -

Glo. She may, lord Rivers ? why, who knowsi

not fo ?

She may do more, fir, than denying that :
She may help you to many fair preferments ;
And then deny her aiding hand therein,
And lay thofe honours on your high defert.
What may Ihe not ? She may, ay, marry, may flie, ,

Riv. What, marry, may Ihe ?

Of your M-will, &c,] This line is rcltored from thefirft edi-
tion. POPE,

fife

KING RICHARD III. 27

Glo. What, marry, may fhe ? marry with a king,
A batchelor, a handfome {tripling too :
I wis, your grandam had a worfer match.

Queen. My lord of Glofter, I have too long borne?
Your blunt upbraidings, and your bitter feoffs :
By heaven, I will acquaint his majefty,
Of thofe grofs taunts I often have endur'd.
I had rather be a- country fervant-maid,
Than a great queen, with this condition-
To be fo baited, fcorn'd, and (formed at :
Small joy have I in being England's queen.

Enter j$ueen Margaret, behind.

. Mar. And leffen'd be that fmall, God, I befeecTi

thee!
Thy honour, ftate, and feat, is due to me.

Glo. What ! threat you me with telling of the king ?
7 Tell him, and fpare not ; look, what I have faid
I will avouch in prefence of the king :
I dare adventure to be fent to the Tower.
J Tis time to fpeak, 8 my pains are quite forgot.

<%. Mar. 9 Out, devil ! I remember them too well :
Thou kill'dfi: my hufband Henry in the Tower,
And Edward, my poor fon, at Tewkfbury. .

Glo. Ere you were queen, ay, or your hufband
king,

7 Tell him, and fpare not ; look, ivbat I bavefaiJ] This verfe
I have reftored from the old quarto's. THEOBALD.

my pains - ] My labours ; my toils. JOHNSON.

9 Out, devil! - ] Read, No. WAR BURTON.

There is no need of change j but if there were, the commeru
tator does not change enough. He fhould read :
- 1 remember them

that is, his pains. JOHNSON.

Mr. Lambe obferves in his notes on the ancient metrical hif-
tory of the Battle of Floddon Field, that out is an interjection of
abhorrence or contempt, moll frequent in the mouths of the
Common people of the north. It occurs again in at IV :
" " out on ye, owls!" STEEVENS.

I was

i8 KING RICHARD III.

I was a pack-horfe in his great affairs ;
A weeder-out of his proud adversaries,
A liberal rewarder of his friends ;
To royalize ' his blood, I fpilt mine own.

j^. Mar. Ay, and much better blood than his, or
thine.

Glo. In all which time, you, and your huiband

Grey,

Were factious for the houfe of Lancafter ;^
And, Rivers, fo were you : * Was not your hufband
In Margaret's battle at faint Alban's flain ?
Let me put in your minds, if you forget,
What you have been ere now, and what you are ;
Withal, what I have been, and what I am.
' J3\ Mar. A murd'rous villain, and fo ftill thou art,

Glo. Poor Clarence did forfake his father Warwick,
Ay, and forfwore himfelf, Which Jefu pardon !

j^. Mar. Which God revenge !

Glo. To fight on Edward's party, for the crown ;
And, for his meed, poor lord, he is mew'd up :
I would to God, my heart were flint, like Edward's,
Or Edward's foft and pitiful, like mine ;
I am too childifh-foolifh for this world.

>. Mar. Hie thee to hell for fhame, and leave this

world,
Thou cacodaemon ! there thy kingdom is.

Riv. My lord of Glofter, in thofe bufy days,
Which here you urge, to prove us enemies,
We follow'd then our lord, our fovereign king;
So Ihould we you, if you ihould be our king.

1 royalize^\ i. e. to make royal. So, in Claudius Tiberius

Nero, 1607 :

" Who means to-morrow for to realize
" The triumphs &c." STEEVENS,

* Was not your bujband,

In Margaret's battle, ]

It is faid in Henry VI, that he died in quarrel cf the houfe ofTork.

JOHNSON.

Glo.

KING RICHARD III. 29

Glo. If I fhould be ? I had rather be a pedlar :
Far be it from my heart, the thought thereof !

Queen. As little joy, my lord, as you fuppofe
You fhould enjoy, were you this country's king ;
As little joy you may fuppofe in me,
That I enjoy, being the queen thereof.

<%. Mar. A little joy enjoys the queen thereof;
For I am ihe, and altogether joylefs.
I can no longer hold me patient. [She advances.
3 Hear me, you wrangling pirates, that fallout
In lharing that which you have pill'd from me 4 :
Which of you trembles not, that looks on me ?
If not, that, I being queen, you bow like fubjecls ;
Yet that, by you deposed, you quake like rebels ?
5 Ah, gentle villain, do not turn away !

G/o. Foul wrinkled witch, what mak'ft thou in my
fight ?

<^. Mar. But repetition of what thou haft marr'd ;
That will I make, before I let thee go.

Glo. Wert thou not banifhed, on pain of death ?

<^. Mar. I was ; but I do find more pain in ba-

nifhment,

Than death can yield me here by my abode.
A hufband, and a fon, thou ow'ft to me,

3 Hear me, you wrangling pirates, &c.] This fcene of Marga-
ret's imprecations is fine and artful. She prepares the audience,
like another Caflandra, for the following tragic revolutions.

WARBURTON.

* ivhicbyou have pill'd from me :] To pill is to pillage.

So, in the Martyr d Soldier, by Shirley, 1638 :

" He has not/tV/Vthe rich, nor fTay'd the poor.'*

STEEVENS.
5 Ah, gentle villain,' ] We fhould read :

u n gentle villain , WA R B u R T o .v .

The meaning ok gentle is not, as the commentator imagine*,
tender or courteous, but high-lorn. An oppoiition is meant be-
tween that and villain, which means at once a wicked and a lo-iv*
lorn wetfh. So before :

Since ev'ry Jack is made a gentleman,

1' here's many a gentle perfoa made a jack. JOHNSO-V.

And

30 KING RICHARD II?.

And thou, a kingdom ; all of you, allegiance :
This forrow that I have, by right is yours ;
And all the pleafures you ufurp, are mine.

Glo. The curfe my noble father laid on thee,
When thou didft crown his warlike brows with paper,
And with thy fcorns drew'ft rivers from his eyes ;
And then, to dry them, gav'ft the duke a clout,
Steep'd in the faultlefs blood of pretty Rutland ;
His curfes, then from bitternefs of foul
Denounc'd againft thee, are all fallen upon thee ;
And God, not we, hath plagu'd thy bloody deed,

6 Queen. So juft is God, to right the innocent.

Haft. O, 'twas the fouleft deed, to flay that babe,
And the mofl mercilefs, that e'er was heard of.

Riv. Tyrants themfelves wept when it was re-
ported.

Dorf. No man but prophefy'd revenge for it.

Buck. Northumberland, then prefent, wept to fee it.

>. Mar. What ! were you fnarling all, before I

came,

Ready to catch each other by the throat,
And turn you all your hatred now on me ?
Did York's dread curfe prevail fo much with heaven,
That Henry's death, my lovely Edward's death,
Their kingdom's lofs, my woeful banifliment,
Could all but anfwer for that peevifh brat ?
Can curfes pierce the clouds, and enter heaven ?
Why, then give way, dull clouds, to my quick

curfes !

Though not by war, 7 by furfeit die your king,
As ours by murder, to make him a king I
Edward, thy fon, that now is prince of Wales,
For Edward my fon, that was prince of Wales,
Die in his youth, by like untimely violence !

e QJMar. SojufiisGoJ, &c.] This line fhould be given to
Edward IVth's queen. WARBURTON.

L " furfeit die your king /] Alluding to his luxurious life.

JOHNSON.

Thy*

KING RICHARD III. 3*

Tliyfelf a queen, for me that was a queen,
Out-live thy glory, like my wretched felf !
Long may'ft thou live, to wail thy children's lofs ;
And fee another, as I fee thee now,
Deck'd in thy rights, as thou art ilall'd in mine !
Long die thy happy days before thy death ;
And, after many lengthen'd hours of grief,
Die neither mother, wife, nor England's queen !J
Rivers, and Dorfet, you were ftanders by,
And fo waft thou, lord Haflings, when my fon
Was ftabb'd with bloody daggers ; God, I pray him,
That none of you may live your natural age,
But by fome unlook'd accident cut off !

Glo. Have done thy charm, thou hateful withered

hag.
Q. Mar. And leave out thee ? flay, dog, for thou

lhalt hear me.

If heaven have any grievous plague in ftore,
Exceeding thofe that I can wifh upon thee,
O, let them keep it, 'till thy fins be ripe,
And then hurl down their indignation
On thee, the troubler of the poor world's peace !
The worm of confcience ftill be-gnaw thy foul !
Thy friends fufpeft for traitors while thou liv'fr,
And take deep traitors for thy deareft friends t
No fleep clofe up that deadly eye of thine,
Unlefs it be while fome tormenting dream
Affrights thee with a hell of ugly devils !
Thou elvifti-mark'd 6 abortive, 7 rooting hog !

Thou

* g/i>//fr-mark*d] The common people in Scotland (as I
learn from Kelly's Proverbs) have ftill an averfion to thole who
have any natural defecl or redundancy, as thinking them mark'J
out for rnifchief. STEEVENS.

* rooting bog /] The expreffion is fine, alluding (in

memory of her young fon) to the ravage which hogs make, with,
the fineft flowers, in gardens ; and intimating that Elizabeth was
Jo expeft no other treatment for her fons. WARBURTOX.

She calls him bog t as an appellation more comemptuoui than

$i KING R I C'H A R D HI.

Thou that waft feal'd in thy nativity
1 The flave of nature, and the fon of hell !
Thou flander of thy mother's heavy womb !
Thou loathed ifiue of thy father's loins !
* Thou rag of honour ! thou detefted

Glo.

loar, as he is elfewhere termed from his enfigns armorial. There
Is no iuch heap of allufion as the commentator imagines.

JOHNSON.

In the Mirror for Magiftrates (a book already quoted) is the
following Complaint of Collingbourne, who was cruelly executed for
snaking a rime.

For where I meant the king I>y name of hog,
I only alluded to his badge the bore :

To Level's name I added more, our Jog ;
JSecaufe moft dogs have borne that name of yore.
Thefe metaphors I us'd with other more,
As cat and rat, the half-names of the reft,
To hide thefenfe that theyfo wrongly wrejl,
That Level was once the common name of a dog, may be like-
wife known from a paflage in The Hiftorie of Jacob and Efau>
an interlude, 1 568 :

" Then come on at once, take my quiver and my bowe j
" Fette love II my hounde , and my home to blowe."
The rhime for which Collingbourne fuffered, was :
'* A cat, a rat, and Lovel the dog,
** Rule all England under a hog." STEEVENS.
1 Thejlave of nature, ] The expreflion is flrong and no-
ble, and alludes to the ancient cuftom of mafters branding their
profligate Haves : by which it is infmuated that his mislhapen per-
fon was the mark that nature had fet upon him to ftigmatize his
ill conditions. Shakefpeare exprefles the lame thought in The
Comedy of Errors :

'* He is deformed, crooked, &c.

" Stigmatical in making, "

But as the fpeaker rifes in her refentment, flie exprefles this con-
temptuous thought much more openly, and condemns him to a
ftill worle ftate of flavery :

" Sin, death, and hell, have fet their marks on h-m."
Only, in the firft line, her mention of his moral condition infi-
nuates her reflections on his deformity : and, in the laft, her men-
tion of his deformity infinuates her reflections on his moral con-
dition : And thus he has taught her to fcold in all the elegance
of figure. WARBURTON.

a Thou rag of honour, &c.] We fliould certainly read :
Thou wrack of honour

KING R I H A R D III. 33

trio. Margaret.
. Mar. Richard !
Glo. Ha ?

. Mw. I call thee not.
Glo. I cry thee mercy then ; for I did think,
That thou had'rt call'd me all thefe bitter names,
j^. Mar. Why, fo I did ; but look'd for no reply,

0, let me make the period to my curfe.

Glo. 'Tis done by me ; and ends in Margaret.
gtueen. Thus have you breath'd your curfe againft

yourfelf.
<^. Mar. Poor painted queen, vain fiourifh of my

fortune J !

Why ftrew'ft thou fugar on that 4 bottled fpider,
Whofe deadly web enfnareth thee about ?
Fool, fool ! thou whet'ft a knife to killthyfelf.
The day will come, that thou lhaltwifhfor me
To help thee curfe this pois'nous bunch-back'd toad.
Haft. Falfe-boding woman, end thy frantick curfe ;
Left, to thy harm, thou move our patience.

j^. Mar. Foul ihame upon you ! you have all mov'd
mine.

1. e. the ruin and deftruftion of honour ; which, I fuppofe, was
firit writ rack, and then further corrupted to rag. WAR BURTON.

Rag is, in my opinion, right, and intimates that much of his
honour is torn away. Patch is, in the fame manner, a contemp-
tuous appellation. JOHNSON.

This word of contempt is ufed again in Timon :

" If thou wilt curfe, thy father, that poor rag,
Muft be the fubjedV
Again, in this play :

*' Thefe over-weening rags of France." STEEVENS.

s flourijh of my fortune /] This expreffion is likevvife ufcd

by Maffinger in the Great Duke of Florence :
*' . I allow thefe

*' AsJIourifljings of fortune. 9 ' STEEVENS.

4 bottled fpider,'} A fpider is called bottled, becaufe,

like other infefts, he has a middle flender ami a belly protuberant.
Richard's form and venom, make her liken him to a fpider.

JQKNSON.

VOL. VII. D Rto.

3 4 KING RICHARD 111

RIv. Were you well ferv'd, you would be tauglst
your duty.

>. Mar. To fcrve me well, you all ihould do me

duty,

Teach me to be your queen, and you my fubjedls :
O, ferve me well, and teach yourfelves that duty.

Do>'f. Dilpute not with her, Ihe is lunatic.

j^. Mar. * Peace, mailer marquis, you are malapert;
Your fire-new flamp of honour is icarce current :
O, that your young nobility could judge,
What 'twere to lofe it, and be miferable !
They that iland high, have many blafts to fhakc

them ;
And, if they fall, they daili themfelves to pieces.

Glo. Good counfel, marry ; learn it, learn it,
marquis.

Dorf. It touches you, my lord, as much as me.

Glo. Ay, and much more : But I was born fo high,
Our aiery buildeth in the cedar's top,
And dallies with the wind, and fcorns the fun.

j^. Mar. And turns the fun to Ihade ; alas [ alasf
Witnefs my fun, now in the ihade of death ;
Whofe bright oiit-fhimng beams thy cloudy wrath
Hath in eternal darknefs folded up.

s Peace, w after marquis ; you arc malaptrt ; &C.] Shakefpeare
may either allude to the late creation ot the marquis of Dorfet, or
to the inftitution of the title of marquis here m England, as a fpecial
dignity, which was no older than Richard II. Robert Vere, earl
of Oxford, was the firll, who, as a diitinft dignity, received the
title of marquis, ift December, anno nono RicbardifecunJl. Sqe
Afhmole's Hiftory of the Order of the Garter, p. 4^6. GRAY.

Peace ^ maftcr marqui^ you are malapert ;] As near a hundred
years had elapfed between the time when the title of marquis
was firft inftituted in England, and the creation of this Thomas
Grey marquis of Dorfet, I think Shakefpeare can hardly allude
to the inftitution of the dignity itfelf ; much lefs could he call it
ajjrc-nt'-iujtamfl of honour J'curce current. Robert Verc, the firft
created marquis received thi? new title, A. D. 1386. Thomas
Grey was created marquis of Dorfet, A. D. 1476. PERCY.

Your

KING RICHARD III. 3B

Your aiery buildeth in our aicry's neft 6 :
O God, that fee'ft it, do not differ it ;
As it was won with blood, loft be it fo !

Buck. Peace, peace, for lhame, if not for charity.

<3>. Mar. Urge neither chanty nor fhame to me ;
Uncharitably with me have you dealt,
And fhamefully by you my hopes are butcher'd.
My charity is outrage^ life my fhame,
And in my lhame Hill live my forrow's rage !

Buck. Have done, have done.

<. Mar. O princely Buckingham, I'll kifs thy hand,
In fie;n of league and amity with thee :
Now fair befal thee, and thy noble houfe !
Thy garments are not fpottcd with our blood,
Nor thou within the compafs of my curfe.

Buck. Nor no one here ; for curfes never pafs
The lips of thofc that breathe them in the air.

>. Mar. I'll not believe but they afcend the fky,
And there awake God's gentle-fleeping peace.
O Buckingham, beware of yonder dog ;
Look, when he fawns, he bites ; and, when he bites,
His venom tooth will rankle to the death :
Have not to do with him, beware of him ;
Sin, death, and hell, have fet their marks upon him ;
And all their minifters attend on him.

Glo. What doth Ihe fay, my lord of Buckingham ?

Buck. Nothing that I refpecl:, my gracious lord.

<. Mar. What, doft thou fcorn me for my gentle

counfel ?
And footh the devil that I warn thee from ?

6 Tour aiety lulUetl in our aiery 'j neft : ] An alery is a hawk's
or an eagle's neft. So, in Green's Card of Fancy ', 1608 :

" It is a fubtle bird that breeds among the aiety of hawks."
Again, in Heywood's Rape of Lucrecc, 1630 :

" His high-built alery fliall be drown'd in blood."
Again, in Maflinger's Maul of Honour :

*' One aiery , with proportion, ne'er difdofes

" The eagle and the wren." STEEVENS.

D 2 O, but

3 6 KING RICHARD III.

O, but remember this another day,

When he fliall fplit thy very heart with forro\v ;

And fay, poor Margaret was a prophetefs.

Live each of you the fubjects to his hate,

And he to yours, and all of you to God's 7 ! [Exit.

Buck. My hair doth (land on end to hear her curies.

Riv. And fodoth mine; I wonder, Ihe's at liberty 8 .

Glo. I cannot blame her, by God's holy mother ;
She hath had too much wrong, and I repent
My part thereof, that I have done to her.

Qiteen. I never did her any, to my knowledge.

Glo. Yet you have all the vantage of her wrong*
I was too hot to do fome body good,
That is too cold in thinking of it now.
Marry, as for Clarence, he is well repay'd ;
9 He is frank'd up to fatting for his pains ;
God pardon them that are the caufe thereof !
Riv. A virtuous and a chriflian-like conclufion,

7 Live each of you thefubjefls to his bate,

And be to yours, and all of you to God*s .']

It is evident from the conduct of Shakefpeare, that the houfe of
Tudor retained all their .Lancaftrian prejudices, even in the reign
of queen Elizabeth. In this play of Richard the Third, he
feems to reduce the woes of the houfe of York from the curfes
which queen Margaret had vented againft them ; and he could
not give that weight to her curfes, without fuppofing a right in
her to utter them. WALPOLE.

* / wonder JJx's at liberty.} Thus the quarto. The folio

reads :

I mufe, why {he's at liberty. STEEVENS.
9 He is frank'd up to fatting for his pains j ] A frank is an old
Englifh word for a hog-Jly. 'Tis poffible he ufes this metaphor
to Clarence, in allufion to the creft of the family of York, which
was a boar. Whereto relate thofe famous old verfes on Rich-
ard.III :

The cat, the rat, and Level the dog^
Rule all England under a hog.
He ufes the fame metaphor in the lait fcene of aft IV. POPE.

\frank was not a common hog-Jlye, but the pen in which thofc
hogs were confined of whom brawn was to be made.

STEEVENS.

To

KING RICHARD III. 37

To pray for them that have clone fcathe to us '.

Glo. So do I ever, being well advis'd;
For had I curs'd now, I had curs'd myfelf. [Afide.

Enter Catejby.

Catef. Madam, his majefty doth call for you,
And for your grace, and you, my noble lords.

Queen. Catefby, I come : Lords, will you go
with me ?

Riv. Madam, we will attend your grace.

[Exeunt all but Glofter.

Glo. I do the wrong, and firft begin to brawl.
The fecret mifchiefs that I fet abroach,
I lay unto the grievous charge of others.
Clarence, whom I, indeed, have laid in darknefs,
I do beweep to many fimple gulls ;
Namely, to Stanley, Haftings, Buckingham ;
And tell them Vis the queen and her allies,
That flir the king againft the duke my brother.
Now they believe it ; and withal whet me
To be reveng'd on Rivers, Vaughan, Grey :
But then I figh, and, with a piece of fcripture,
Tell them that God bids us do good for evil :
And thus I clothe my naked villainy
With old odd ends, flol'n forth of holy writ ;
And feem a faint, when moil I play the devil.

Enter two Murderers,

But foft, here come my executioners.-^-
How now, my hardy, flout, rcfolved mates ?
Are you now going to difpatch this thing ?

1 . done fcathe to ns.~\ Scqtbe is harm, mifchief.

So, in Soliman and Perfeda :

" Whom now that paltry ifland keeps from feath"
Again :

" Millions of men oppreft with ruin QD&Jcatti"

STEEVENS.

D 3 I Mir.

38 KING RICHARD III.

i Mur. We arc, my lord ; and come to have the

warrant,
That we may be admitted where he is.

Glo. Well thought upon, I have it here about me :
When you have done, repair to Crofby-place.
But, firs, be fudden in the execution, :
Withal obdurate, do not hear him plead ;
For Clarence is well fpoken, and, perhaps,
May move vour hearts to pity, if you mark him.

i Mur. Tut., tut, my lord, we will not Hand tq

prate,

Talkers are no good doers ; be affur'd,
We go to ufe our hands, and not our 'tongues.

Glo. Your eyes drop mill-Hones, when fools' eyes

drop tears * :

I like you, lads ; about your bufinefs ftraight ;
Go, go, difpatch.

I Mitr. We will, my noble lord. [Exeunt,

SCENE IV.

An apartment in the Tower.

Enter Clarence, and Bjrakenbury.

rak. Why looks your grace fo heavily to-day ?

Gar. O, I have paft a miferable night,
So full of fearful dreams, of ugly fights,
That, as I am a chriftian 1 faithful man,
I would not fpend another fuch a night,
Though 'twere to buy a world of happy days ;
So full of difmal terror was the time.

fo*r eyts fry mill-Jlones, -when fools' eyes fop tears ;~\ This, I
lieve, is a proverbial expreffion. It is ufed again in the tra-
gedy of Cxfar andPompcy, 1607 5

' Men's eyes muft mill-Jlones drop, when fools (bed tears."

STEEVENS.
' faithful man,] Not an infidel. JOHNSO.V.

KING RICHARD III. 39

Brak. What was your dream, my lord ? I pray
you, tell me.

Clar. Mcthought, that I had broken from the

Tower,

And was cmbark'd to crofs to Burgundy ;
And, in my company, my brother Glofter :
Who from my cabin tempted me to walk
Upon the hatches; thence we look'd towards Eng-
land,

And cited up a thoufand heavy times,
During the wars of York and Lanca'fter
Thnt had befall'ii us. As we pac'd along
Upon the giddy footing of the hatches,-
Methoughr, that Gloftcr {tumbled ; and, in falling,
Struck me, that thought to ftay him, over-board,
Into the tumbling billows of the main.
O Lord ! methought, what pain it was to drown !
What dreadful noife of water in mine ears !
What fights of ugly death within mine eyes !
Methought, I faw a thoufand fearful wrecks ;
A thoufand men, that fifties gnaw'd upon ;
Wedges of gold, great anchors, heaps of pearl,
Ineftimable {tones, unvalued jewels 4 ,
All fcatter'd in the bottom of the fea.
Some lay in dead men's ikulls ; and, in thofe holes,
Where eyes did once inhabit, there were crept,
(As 'twere in fcorn of eyes) reflecting gems,
5 That woo'd the flimy bottom of the deep,
And mock'd the dead bones that lay fcatter'd by.

4 Incftimallfftones, unvalued yVi'.r/f,] UiHM&fdn here ufed for
ix-jahtallc. So, in Lovelace's Pofthumous Poems, 1659:

" the unvalcvj'd robe Ihe wore

" Made infinite lay lovers to adore."
Again :

" And what fubfhntial riches I poflefs,

" I muft to thcie f-v/ra/rcuV dreams confefs." MALOKE.

5 Tbat woo'd the Jlimy bottom ] By feeming to gaze

upon it j or, as we now fay, to ogk it. JOHNSON,

D 4 Brat.

40 KING RICHARD III.

Brak. Had you fuch leifure in the time of death,
To gaze upon rhefe fecrets of the deep ?

Clar. Methought, I had ; and often did I drive
To yield the ghoft : but ftill the envious flood
Kept in my foul, and would not let it forth
To feck the empty, vaft, and wancTring air ;
But fmother'd it within my panting bulk,
Which almoft burft to belch it in the fea.

Erak. Awak'd you not with this fore agony?

Clar. O, no, my dream was lengthen'd after life j
O, then began the tempeft to my foul !
I pafs'd, methought, the melancholy flood,
With that grim ferryman 6 which poets write of,
Unto the kingdom of perpetual night.
The firft that there did greet my ftranger foul,
Was my great father-in-law, renowned Warwick ,;
Who cry'd aloud, What fcourge for perjury
Can this dark monarchy afford falje Clarence ?
And fo he vanifh'd : Then came wand'ring by
A fhadow like an angel, with bright hair x
Dabbled in blood ; and he ihriek'd out aloud, ,
Clarence is come, falfe, * fating* perjur'd Clarence,
Thatjlabb'd me in the field by Tewkjlury ;
Seize on him, furies, take him to your torments !
With that, methought, a legion of foul fiends 8

Eqvi-

6 'grim ferryman.] The folio reads -four ferryman.

STEEVENS.

7 fleeting, perjufd Clarence,} Fluting is the fame as

Clanging Jldes. JOHNSON.

So, in Antony and Cleopatra :

1 now \hcjlceting moon

No planet is of mine.

Clarence broke his oath with the earl of Warwick, and joined
the army of his brother king Edward IV. STEEVENS,

- a legion of foul fiends
Environed me, &c.]

Milton feems to have thought on this paflage where he is defcnb-
ing the midnnrht iuffcrings of Our Saviour, in the 4 th book of Pa-
radife

KING RICHARD III. 4 t

Environed me, and howled in mine ears
Such hideous cries, that, with the very noife,
I trembling wak'd, and, for a feafon after,
Could not believe but that I was in hell;
Such terrible impreffion made my dream.

Brak. No marvel, lord, that it affrighted you;
I am afraid, methinks, to hear you tell it.

Gar. O, Brakenbury, I have done thefe things,
That now give evidence agamft my foul,
For Edward's fake ; and, fee, how he requites ine !
9 O God ! if my deep prayers cannot appeafe thce,
But thou wilt be avcng'd on my mifdeeds,
Yet execute thy wrath on me alone :
O, fpare my guiltlefs wife, and my poor children !
I pray thee, gentle keeper, Itay by me ;
My foul is heavy, and I fain would fleep.

Brak. I will, my lord ; God give your grace good
reft ! [Clarence Jleeps.

1 Sorrow breaks feafons, and repofing hours,
Makes the night morning, and the noon-tide night.
* Princes have but their titles for their glories,
An outward honour for an inward toil ;

*' nor yet ftay'd the terror there,

*' Infernal ghofts, and hellifh furies, round

?* Environ'd thee, fome howl'd, iome yell'd, forae

fhriek'd " STEEVENS.

9 OGod! if my deep prayers &c.] The four following lines have
been added fince the firit edition. POPE.

1 Soi -row , breaks feafons, &c.] In the common editions, the
keeper is made to hold the dialogue with Clarence till this line.
And here Brakenbury enters, pronouncing thefe words ; which
feein to me a reflection naturally refulting from the foregoing con-
verfation, and therefore continued to be fpoken by the fame per-
foo, a& it is accordingly in the firil edition. POPE.
* Princes have but their titles for their glories^

An outward honour, for an inward toil ; ]

The firft line may be underltood in this fenfe, The glories ofprincef
arc nothing more than empty titles: but it would more imprefs the
purpofe or" the fpeaker, and correfpond better with the following
lilies, if it were read :

Prjjices have but their titles for their troubles. JOHNSOK.

And,

42 KING RICHARD III.

And, J for unfelt imaginations,
They often feel a world of reftlefs cares :
So that, between their titles, and low name,
There's nothing differs but the outward fame.

Enter the two Murderers.

1 Murd. Ho ! xvho's here ?

Brak. What would'Il thou, fellow ? and how cam'ft
thou hither ?

2 Murd. I would fpeak with Clarence, and I came
hither on my legs.

Brak. What, fo brief ?

i Murd. O, fir, 'tis better to be brief, than te-
dious :
Shew him our commiffion, talk no more.

Brak. I am, in this, commanded to deliver
The noble duke of Clarence to your hands :-
I will not reafon what is meant hereby,
Becaufe I will be guiltlefs of the meaning.
Here are the keys ; there fits the duke aileep :
I'll to the king ; and fignify to him,
That thus I have refign'd to you my charge.

1 Murd. You may, fir ; 'tis a point of wifdom :
Fare you well. [Exit Brakenbury.

2 Murd. What, fhall we flab him as he fleeps ?

1 Murd. No ; he'll fay, 'twas done cowardly, when
he wakes.

2 Murd. When he wakes ! why, fool, he lhall ne-
ver wake until the great judgment day.

l Murd. Why, then he'll fay, we flabb'd him flccp-
ing.

^ Murd. The urging of that word, judgment, hath
bred a kind of remorie in me,

3 for unfelt imaginations,

They often feel a wrM of reJHcfs
They often fuffer real miferies for ima*ii
tions, JOHNSON.

Icfs cares :]

iginary and unreal gratifica-

j Murd*

KING RICHARD III. 43

1 Murd. What ? art thou afraid ?

2 Murd. Npt to kill him, having a warrant for it;
but to be damn'd for killing him, from the which
no warrant can defend me,

1 Murd. I thought, thou had'ft been refolute.

2 Murd. So I am, to let him live.

1 Murd. I'll back to the duke of Glofler, and tell
fcim fo.

2 Murd. Nay, I pr'ythee, ftay a little : I hope, this
compaffiunate humour of mine will change ; it was
\vpnt to hold me but while one would tell twenty.

1 Muni How doft thou feel thyfelf now ?

2 Murd. 'Faith, fome certain dregs of confcience
are yet within me.

1 Murd. Remember our reward, when the deed's
cjone.

2 Murd. Come, he dies; I had forgot the reward.

1 Murd. Where's thy confcience now ?

2 Murd. In the duke of Gloftcr's purfe.

1 Murd. When he opens his purfe to give us our
reward, thy confcience flies out.

2 Murd. 'Tis no matter ; let it go ; there's few,
pr none, will entertain it.

j. Murd. W T hat, if it come to thee again ?

2 Murd. I'll not meddle with it, it is a dangerous
thing, it makes a man a cpward ; a man cannot fleal,
but it accufeth him ; a man cannot fwear, but it checks
him; a man cannot lie with his neighbour's wife,
but it detedts him : 'Tis a blufhing ihame-fac'd fpirit,
that mutinies in a man's bofom ; it fills one full of
obftacles : it made me once reftore a purfe of gold,
that by chance I found ; it beggars any man that
keeps it : it is turn'd out of all towns and cities for a
dangerous thing ; and every man, that means to live
well, endeavours to truft to himfelf, and live with-
out it.

i Murd. 'Zounds, it is even now at my elbow,
perfuading me nqt to kill the duke.

2

44 KING RICHARD III.

2 Murd. 4 Take the devil in thy mind, and believe
him not : he would infinuate with thec, but to make
thee figh.

1 Murd. I am flrong fram'd, he cannot prevail
with me".

2 Murd. * Spoke like a tall fellow, that refpects
his reputation. Come, fhall we fall to work ?

1 Murd. Take him over the colbrd 6 with the hilts
of thy fword, and then throw him into the malmfey-
butt, in the next room.

2 Murd. O excellent device ! and make a fop of

him.

1 Murd. Soft ! he wakes.

2 Murd. Strike.

i Mttrd. No, 7 we'll reafon with him.

Clar. Where art thou, keeper ? give me a cup of

wine.
i Murd. You ftiall have wine enough, my lord,

anon.

Clar. In God's name, what art thou ?
i Murd. A man, as you are.
Clar. But not, as I am, royal,
i Murd. Nor you, as we are, loyal.
Clar. Thy voice is thunder, but thy looks are

humble.

4 Take the devil in tJy mind, and believe him not: he would iiiji-
nuate with thee, &c.] One villain fays, Confcience is at his elbows,
perfuading him not to kill the duke. The other lays, take the
devil into thy nearer acquaintance, into thy mind, who will be a
match for thy confcience, and believe it not, &c. It is plain
then, that him in both places in the text fhould be //, namely,
confcience. WAR BURTON,

Shakefpeare fo frequently ufes both thefe pronouns indifcrimi-
nately, that no correction is neeeflary. STEEVENS.

5 Spoke like a tall fellow, ~] The meaning of tall, in old Englifh,
Kjtout, daring, fearlefs, zn&Jirong. JOHNSON.

6 the coftard] /. e. the head, a name adopted from an ap-
ple fhap'd like a man's head. So, in Arden of Feve rJJ:am^ 1592 :

" One and two rounds at his cojlar,!."
Hence likcvvifc the term c oft ar -monger. STEEVENS.

7 willreafcn ] We'll talk,. JOHNSOX.

i Murd.

KING RICHARD III. 45

1 Murd. My voice is now the king's, my looks mine

own.
Clar. How darkly, and how deadly doft thou

fpeak !

Your eyes do menace me : Why look you pale ?
Who fent you hither > Wherefore do you come ?

2 Murd. To, to, to,
Clar. To murder me ?
Both. Ay, ay.

Clar. You fcarce'y have the hearts to tell me fo,
And therefore cannot have the hearts to do it.
Wherein, my friends, have I offended you ?

1 Murd. Offended us you have not, but the king.
Clar. I fhall be reccncil'd to him again.

2 Murd. Never, my lord ; therefore prepare to die.
Clar. 8 Are you call'd forth from out a world of men,

To flay the innocent ? What is my offence ?
Where is the evidence that doth accufe me ?
What lawful 9 queft have given their verdict up
Unto the frowning judge ? or who pronounc'd
The bitter fentence of poor Clarence' death ?
Before I be convict by courfe of law,
To threaten me with death, is moft unlawful.
I charge you, as you hope to have redemption %
That you depart, and lay no hands on me ;
The deed you undertake is damnable.

i Murd. What we will do, we do upon command.

* Are you call'd forth from out a world of men,] I think it may
be better read :

Are ye c\\\\' forth JOHNSON.

The folio reads :

Are you drawn forth among a world of men.
I adhere to the reading now in the text. So, in Nolojy aid
ScmeloJy, \ 598 :

" Art thou caWd forth amongft a thoufand men
" To minhler this foveraign antidotq ?" STEEVENS.
" What lawful queft ] Queft is inqueft or jury. JOHNSON.

1 asyou hope to have redemption,] The folio reads

you hope /or any goodnefs. The quarto likewife adds :

By Chrift's dear blood fhed for our grievous fins. STEEVEVS.

2 Murd.

46 KING RICHARD III.

2. Murd. And he, that hath commanded, is our king.

Gar. Erroneous vaflal ! the great King of kings
Hath in the table of his law commanded^
That thou ftialt do no murder ; Wilt thou then
Spurn at his cdidt, and fulfil a man's ?
Take heed ; for he holds vengeance in his hand^
To hurl upon their heads that break his law*

2 Murd. And that fame vengeance doth he hurl on

thee,

For falfe forfwearing, and for murder too :
Thou didft receive the facrament, to fight
In quarrel of the houfe of Lancafler.

1 Murd. And, like a traitor to the name of God,
Didft break that vow ; and, with thy treacherous

blade,
XJnrip'dft the bowels of thy fovereign's fon.

2 Murd. Whom thou waft fworn to cherilh and

defend.

i Murd. How canft thou urge God's dreadful law

to us,
When thou haft broke it in fuch dear degree ?

Clar. Alas ! for whofe fake did I that ill deed ?
For Edward, for my brother, for his fake :
He fends you not to murder me for this ;
For in that fin he is as dee"p as I.
If God will be avenged for the deed,
O, know you yet, he doth it pnblickly ;
Take not the quarrel from his powerful arm ;
J-le needs no indirect nor lawlefs courfe,
To cut off thofe that have offended him.

i Murd. Who made thee then a bloody minifter,
When gallant-fpringing ', brave Plantagenet,

Ringing Plantagenet,'} Blooming Plantagenet; a prince
in tVc/fritte of life. JOHNSON.

When gallant, fpringing,] This (hould be printed as one word,
I think igaUaut-fyr'mgiHg. Shakefpeare is fond of thefe com-
pound epithets, in which the firft adjedive is to be confidered as
an adverb. So, in this play he ufes cbiMyb-foollJb* fenfdcfc-objli-
wut and tnorta!-J!ari s . TYRWHITT.

That

KING RICHARD III. 47

That princely z novice, was (truck dead by thee ?

Clar. My brother's love, the devil, and my rage,

Murd. Thy brother's love, our duty, and thy fault,
Provoke us hither now to Slaughter thee.

Clar. If you do love my brother, hate not me ;
I am his brother, and I love him well.
If you are hir'd for meed, go back again,
And I will fend you to my brother Glofter ;
Who fhall reward you better for my life,
Than Edward will for tidings of my death.

2 Murd. You are deceiv'd, your brother Glofter
hates you.

Clar. Oh, no ; he loves me, and he holds me dear :
Go you to him from me.

Both. Ay, fo we will.

Clar. Tell him, when that our princely father York
Blefs'd his three fons with his victorious arm,
And charg'd us from his foul to love each other,
He little thought of this divided friendfhip :
Bid Glofter think on this, and he will weep J .

i Murd. Ay, mili-ftones ; as he leflbn'd us to weep.

Clar. O, do not flander him, for he is kind.

i Murd. Right, as fnow in harveft. Come, you

deceive yourfelf ;
'Tis he that fends us to deftroy you here.

Clar. It cannot be ; for he bewept my fortune,
And hugg'd me in his arms, and fwore, with fobs,
That he would labour my delivery.

1 Murd. Why, fo he doth, when he delivers yo\l
From this earth's thraldom to the joys of heaven.

2 Murd. Make peace with God, for you muft die,

my lord.

* novice, ] Youth ; one yet new to the world. JoHlf SON.

3 he "Mill weep.

i Murd. Ay, millftones.
So, in Maffinger's City Madam :

'* He, good gentleman,

" Will weep when he hears how we are ufed. -
11 Ys, miUftonti. STEEVEKS."

Clar.

4 8 KING RICHARD III.

Clar. Haft thou that holy feeling in thy foul,
To counfel me to make my peace with God,
And art thou yet to thy own foul fo blind,
That thou wilt war with God by murdering me ?-
O, firs, confider, he, that fet you on
To do this eked, will hate you for the deed.

2 Murd. What lhall we do ?

Clar. Relent, * and fave your fouls.
Which of you, if you were a prince's fon,
Being pent from liberty, as I am now,
If two fuch murderers as yourfelves came to you,
Would not intreat for life ? as you would beg,
Were you in my diftrefs,

i Murd. Relent ! 'tis cowardly, and womanilh.

Clar. Not to relent, is beaftly, favage, deviliih.
My friend, I fpy fome pity in thy looks ;
O, if thine eye be not a flatterer,
Come thou on my fide, and entreat for me :
A begging prince what beggar pities not ' ?

2 Murd.

4 andfaveyourfoul^ &c.] The fix following lines are not
in the old edition. POPE.

They are not neceflary, but fo forced in, that fomething feems
omitted to which thefe lines are the anfwer. JOHNSON.

5 what beggar pities not ?"] I cannot but fufpecl that the

lines, which Mr. Pope obferved not to be in the old edition, are
now mifplaced, and fliould be inferted here, fomewhat after thia
manner :

Clar. A begging prince ivbat beggar pities not ?
Vil. A begging prinee /

Clar. -Wljich of you, if you were a prince's fan, &c.
Upon this provocation, the villain naturally ftrikes him. JOHNSON,
Mr. Pope's note is not accurately flated. I believe this paflTage*
(hould be regulated thus.

Clar. 'Relent and fave your fouls.
I Vil. Relent! 'tis cowardly and womanifh.
Clar. Not to relent is beaftly, favage, devilifh.
Which of you if you were a prince's fon

Being pent .

If two fuch

Would nof intreat for life ?

My friend, I fpy

KING klCHARD III. 49

2 Murd. Look behind you, my lord.

1 Murd. Take that, and that; if all this will not

ferve, [Stabs bim.

I'll drown you in the malmfey-butt within. [Exit.

2 Murd. A bloody deed, and defperately dif-

patch'd !

How fain, like Pilate, would I wafli my hands
Of this molt grievous guilty murder done !

Re-enter firft Murderer.

1 Murd. How now ? what mean'fl thou, thatthou

help'ft me not ?

fey heaven, the duke mail know how flack you have
been.

2 Murd. I would he knew, that I had fav'd his bro-

ther !

Take thou the fee, and tell him what I fay;
For I repent me that the duke is flain. [Exit.

i Murd. So do not I ; go, coward, as thou art.
Well, I'll go hide the body in fome hole,
'Till that the duke give order for his burial :
And when I have my meed, I will away ;
For this will out, and then I muft not ftay.

[Exif 9 with the body.
O, if thine eye

Come then on my fide, and intreat for me,
As you would beg, were you in my diftrefs.
A begging prince what beggar pities not ? TYRWHITT.

A legging prince what beggar pities not?] To this in the quarto,
the murderer replies :

I, thus and thus : .if this will not ferve,
I'll chop thee in the malmefey but in the next roame.
and then flabs him. STEEVENS.

VOL. VII. E ACT

5 o KING RICHARD IIL
A C T II. S C E N E I.

The Court.

Enter King Edward fid, the Queen, Dorfet, 'Rivers;
Hajlings, Buckingham, Grey, and others.

K. Edw. Why, fo : now have I done a good day's

work ;

You peers, continue this united league :
I every day expect an embaflage
From my Redeemer to redeem me hence ;
And now in peace my foul lhall part to heaven,
Since I have made my friends at peace on earth.
Rivers, and Haflings, take each other's hand ;
Diflemble not your hatred, fwear your love.

Riv. By heaven, my foul is pnrg'd from grudging

hate ;

And with my hand I feal my true heart's love.
Haft. So thrive I, as I truly fwear the like !
K. Edzv. Take heed, you dally not before your

king;

Left he, that is the fupreme King of kings,
Confound your hidden falfhood, and award
Either of you to be the other's end.

Haft. So profper I, as I fwear perfect love !
Riv. And I, as I love Hailings with my heart !
K. Edw. Madam, yourfelf are not exempt in this,
Nor your fon Dorfet, Buckingham, nor you ;
You have been fadious one againft the other.
Wife, love lord Haflings, let him kifs your hand ;
And what you do, do it unfeignedly.

$ueen. There, Hailings ; I will never more re-
member

Our former hatred, So thrive I, and mine !
/T. fer. Dorfet, embrace him ; Hailings, love
lord marquis.

Dor.

KltiG iiCHARD lit. 51

tior. This enterchange of love, I here proteft,
tjpon my part, fhall be inviolable.

Haft. And Ib fwear I.

K. Edw. Now, princely Buckingham, feal thou

this league

With thy embracements to my wife's allies,
And make me happy in your unity.

Buck. Whenever Buckingham doth turn his hate
Upon your grace, but with all duteous love

[To the Queen.

Doth cherim you* and yours, God punifh me
With hate in thole where I exped: moft love !
When I have moft need to employ a friend,
And moft affured that he is a friend,
JDeep, hollow, treacherous, and full of guile,
Be he unto me ! this do I beg of heaven,
When I am cold in love, to you, or yours.

[Embracing Rivers, &c.

K. Edzv. A pleafing cordial, princely Buckingham,
Is this thy vow unto my iickly heart*
There wanteth now our brother Glofter here,
To make the blefled period of this peace.

Buck. And, in good time, here comes the noble duke*

Enter Glofter.

Glo. Good morrow to my fovereign, king, and

queen ;
And, princely peers, a happy time of day !

K. Edzv. Happy, indeed, as we have fpent the

day :

Brother, we have done deeds of charity ;
Made peace of enmity, fair love of hate,
Between thefe fwelling wrong-incenfed peers.

Glo. A blefled labour, my moft fovereign liege. ^
Among this princely heap, if any here,
By falfe intelligence, or wrong furmife,
Hold me a foe ; if I unwittingly
Have aught committed that is hardly borne

E 2 By

5 i KING RICHARD lit*

By any in this prefence, I defire

To reconcile me to his friendly peace :

'Tis death to me, to be at enmity ;

I hate it, and defire all good men's love.

Fir ft, madam, I entreat true peace of you,

Which I will purchafe with my duteous iervice ;

Of you, my noble coufin Buckingham,

If ever any grudge were lodg'd between us ;

Of you, lord Rivers, and, lord Grey, of you f

That all without defert have frown'd on me ;

Of you, lord Woodville,. and lord Scales, of you,

Dukes, earls, lords, gentlemen ; indeed, of all.

I do not know 6 that Englishman alive,

With whom my foul is any jot at odds,

More than the infant that is born to-night ;

I thank my God for my humility.

Queen. A holy-day this Ihall be kept hereafter :
I would to God, all ftrifes were well compounded.
My fovereign lord, I do befeech your highnefs
To take our brother Clarence to your grace..

Glo* Why, madam, have I offer'd love for this, *
To be fo flouted in this royal prefence ?

6 Ida not know- &c.} Milton in his EIKONOKAASTHS, lias
this obfervation. " The poets, and Ibme Englifli, have been in
this point Ib mindful of decorum, as to put never more pious
words in the mouth of any perlbn, than of a tyrant. I fliall not
inftance an abftrufe author,, wherein the king might be lefs con-
verfant, but one whom we well know was the clofet-companion
of thefe his folitudes, William Shakefpeare ; who introduced the
perfon of Richard the Third, fpeaking in as high a itrain of
piety and mortification as is uttered' in any paffage in this book,
and fomctimes to the fame fenie and purpole with fome words in
this place; I Intended, faith he, not only to oblige my, friends, but
my enemies. The like faith Richard, act II. fc. i t

I do not know that Englifliman alive

With whom my foul is any jot at odds,

More than the infant that is born to-night j

I thank my God for my humility.

Other ftufF of this fort may be read throughout the tragedy,
wherein the poet ufed not much licence in departing from the
truth of hiftory, which delivers him a deep diircmbler, not of
his affections only, but of religiou." brtiiVJiNS*

Who

KING RICHARD III. 53

W'ho knows not, that the gentle duke is dead ?

[They alljlart.
You do him injury, to fcorn his corfe.

K. Edzv. Who knows not, he is dead ! who knows t
he is ?

<Queen. All-feeing heaven, what a world is this !

Buck. Look I fo pale, lord Dorfet, as the reft ?

Dor. Ay, my good lord ; and no man in the prefence,
But his red colour hath forfook his cheeks.

K.Etkv. Is Clarence dead? the order was reversed.

Glo. But he, poor man, by your firft order died,
And that a winged Mercury did bear ;
Some tardy cripple bore the countermand 7 ,
That came too lag to fee him buried :
God grant, that fomc, lefs noble, and lefs loyal,
Nearer in bloody thoughts, and not in blood,
Defcrve not worfc than wretched Clarence did,
And yet go current from fufpicion !

Enter Lord Stanley.

Stan. A boon, my fovereign, for my fervice done !
K. Edw. I pr'ythee, peace ; my foul is full of for-

ro\v.

Stan. I will not rife, unlefs your highnefs hear me.
K. Edw. Then fay at once, what is it thou requeft'ft.
Stan. 8 The forfeit, fovereign, of my fervant's life;
Who flew to-day a riotous gentleman,
Lately attendant on the duke of Norfolk.

K. Edw. 9 Have I a tongue to doom my brother's
death.

And

7 foiiu tardy cripple &c.] This is an allufion to a prover-
bial expreffion which Drayton has vcrfified in the fecond canto of
the Baron's If "ars :

" 111 news hath wings, and with the wind doth go ;

*' Comfort's a cr'tpple > and comes ever flow." STEEVETNS.

8 Tic forfeit ~\ He means the remiffion of the forfeit.

JOHNSON.

5 Have I a tottgue to doom ny IrotlMifsdeaib?} This lamentation
3 is

5 4 KING RICHARD III,

And fhall that tongue give pardon to a flave ?
My brother kill'd no man, his fault was thought^
And yet his punishment was bitter death.
Who fu'd to me for him ? who, in my wrath,
Kneel'd at my feet, and bid me be advis'd ?
Who fpoke of brotherhood . ; who fpoke of love ?
Who told me ? how the poo<* foul did forfake
The mighty Warwick, and did fight for me ?
Who told me, in the field at Tewkfbury,
When Oxford had me down, he refcu'd me,
And faid ? Dear brother, live, and be a king f
Who told me, when we both lay in the field,
Frozen almoft to death^ how he difi lap me
Even in his garments ; and did give himfelf,
All thin and naked, to the numb-cold night ?
All this from my remembrance brutifh wrath
Sinfully, pluck'd, and not a man of you
Had fo much grace to put it in my mind.
But, when your carters, or your waiting vaflals,
Have done a drunken flaugfiter, and defac'd
The precious image of our dear Redeemer,
You ftraight are on your knees for pardon, pardon \
And I, unjuftly too, muft grant it you :
But for my brother, not a man would fpeak,-r-
Nor I (ungracious) fpeak unto myfelf
For him, poor foul. -The proudeft of you all
Have been beholden to him in his life ;
Yet none of you would once plead for his life,;
O God ! I fear, thy juftice will take hold
On me, and you, and mine, and yours, for this.
Come, Haftings, help me to my clofet. Oh,
Poor Clarence ! [Exeunt King and Queen, Ha/lings,^

Rivers, Dorfet, and Grey.

Qlo. Thefe are the fruits of ralhnefs ! Mark'd
you not,

^ tender and pathetick. The recolleftion of the good qua-
lities of the dead is very natural, and no lefs naturally does the
king endeavour to communicate the crime to others. JOHNSON, j

How

KING RICHARD III. 55

How that the guilty kindred of the queen

Look'd pale, when they did hear of Clarence' death >

O ! they did urge it (till unto the king :

God will revenge it. Come, lords ; will you go,

To comfort Edward with our company ?

Buck. We wait upon your grace, [Exeunt.

SCENE II.

The fame.

Enter tie Dutchefs of Tork, with the two children of
Clarence.

Son. Good grandam, tell us, is our father dead ?

Dutcl. No, boy.

Daugh. Why do you weep fo oft ? and beat your

breaft ?
And cry, O Clarence, my unhappy fon !

Son. Why do you look on us, and lhake your head,
And call us orphans, wretches, caft-aways,
If that our noble father be alive ?

Dutch. My pretty coufins, you miftake me both ;
I do lament the ficknefs of the king,
As loth to lofe him, not your father's death ;
It were loft forrow, to wail one that's loft.

Son. Then, grandam, you conclude that he is dead.
The king mine uncle is to blame for this :
God will revenge it ; whom I will importune
With earncft prayers, all to that effedt.

Daugh. And fo will I.

Dutch. Peace, children, peace ! the king doth love

you well :

Incapable and (hallow innocents,
You cannot guefs who caus'd your father's death.

Son. Grandam, we can : for my good uncle Gloftcr
Told me, the king, provok'd to't by the queen,

E 4 DC-

5 6 KING RICHARD III.

Devis'd impeachments to imprifon him :
And when my uncle told me fo, he wept,
And pitied me, and kindly kifs'd my cheek ;
Bade me rely on him, as on my father,
And he would love me dearly as his child.

Dutch. Ah, that deceit Ihould fteal fuch gentle

fhapes,

And with a virtuous vizor hide deep vice !
He is my fon, ay, and therein my fhame.
Yet from my dugs he drew not this deceit.

Son. Think you, my uncle did diffemble, gran-
dam ?

Dutch. Ay, boy.

Son. I cannot think it. Hark ! what noife is this ?

Enter the ^ueen, diftraftedly ; Riven, and Dorfet, after
her.

Queen. Ah ! who ftiall hinder me to wail and weep ?
To chide my fortune, and torment myfelf ?
I'll join with black defpair againft my foul.
And to myfelf become an enemy.

Dutch. What means this fcene of rude impatience ?

Queen. To make an ad: of tragic violence :
Edward, my lord, thy fon, our king, is dead.
Why grow the branches, when the root is gone ?
Why wither not the leaves, that want their lap ?
If you will live, lament ; if die, be brief ;
That our fwift- winged fouls may catch the king's ;
Or, like obedient fubje&s, follow him
To his new kingdom of perpetual reft.

Dutch. Ah, fp much intereft have I in thy forrow,
As I had title in thy noble hufband !
I have bewept a worthy hulband's death,
And liv'd by looking on * his images :
But now, two mirrors of his princely femblance

1 bis images:] The children by whom he was repre-

feiited, JOHNSON.

KING RICHARD 'III, 57

Are crack'd in pieces by malignant death ;
And I for comfort have but one falfe glafs,
That grieves me when I fee my lhame in him.
Thou art a widow ; yet thou art a mother.
And haft the comfort of thy children left thec :
But death hath fnatch'd my hulband from mine arms,
And pluck'd two crutches from my feeble hands,
Clarence, and Edward. O, what caufe have I,
(Thine being but a moiety of my grief)
To over-go thy plaints, and drown thy cries ?

Son. Ah, aunt ! [To the <$ueen.'] you wept not for

our father's death ;
How can we aid you with our kindred tears ?

Daugh. Our fatherlefs diftrefs was left unmoanM,
Your widow dolour likewife be unwept !

Queen. Give me no help in lamentation,
I am not barren to bring forth laments :
All fprings reduce their currents to mine eyes,
That I, z being governed by the watry moon,
May fend forth plenteous tears to drown the world!
Ah, for my hufband, for my dear lord Edward !

Cbil. Ah, for our father, for our dear lord Clarence !

Dutch. Alas, for both, both mine, Edward and
Clarence !

Queen. What ftay had I, but Edward ? and he's
gone.

CJjil. What ftay had we, but Clarence ? and he's
gone.

Dutch. What ftays had I, but they ? and they are
' gone.

Queen. M r as never widow, had fo dear a lofs.

Cbil. Were never orphans, had fo dear a lofs.

Dutch. Was never mother, had fo dear a lofs.
Alas ! I am the mother .of thefe griefs ;

a being governed l>y lie ivatiy mron,} That I may live

^ercafter under the influence of the moon, which governs the
tides, and by the help of that influence dn.vvn the world. The
introduction of the mcon is not verv mtural. JOHNSQX.

Their

5 S KING RICHARD III.

Their woes are parcell'd, mine are general.
She for an Edward weeps, and fo do I ;
I for a Clarence weep, fo doth not fhe :
Thefe babes for Clarence weep, and fo do I ;
I for an Edward weep, fo do not they :
Alas ! you three, on me, threefold diftrefs'd,
Pour all your tears ; I am your forrow's nurfe,
And I will pamper it with lamentations.

Dor. Comfort, dear mother; God is much dif-

pleas'd,

That you take with imthankfulnefs his doing :
In common worldly things, 'tis call'd ungrateful,
With dull unwillingnefs to repay a debt,
Which with a bounteous hand was kindly lent;
Much more, to be thus oppofite with heaven,
For it requires the royal debt it lent you.

Riv. Madam, bethink you, like a careful mo~

ther,

Of J:he young prince your fon : fend ftraight for him,
Let him be crown'd ; in him your comfort lives :
Drown defperate forrow in dead Edward's grave,
And plant your joys in living Edward's throne.

Enter Gloftcr, Buckingham, Stanley, Ha/lings, and
Ratcliff.

Glo. Sifter, have comfort : all of us have caufe.
To wail the dimming of our fhining ftar;
But none can cure their harms by wailing them.
Madam, my mother, I do cry you mercy,
I did not fee your grace : Humbly on my knee
I crave your blcffing.

Dutch. God blefs thec ; and put meeknefs in thy

breaft,
Love, charity, obedience, and true duty !

Glo. Amen ; and rriake me die a good old man !
That is the butt-end of a mother's bleffing ; [Aftde,
I marvel, that her grace did leave it out.

Buck.

KING RICHARD III. ? 9

Buck. You cloudy princes, and heart-forrowing

peers,

That bear this mutual heavy load of moan,
Now chear each other in each other's love :
Though we have fpent our harveft of this king,
We are to reap the harveft of his fon.
The broken rancour of your high-fwoln hearts,
But lately fplinted, knit, and join'd together,
Muft gently be preferv'd, cheriih'cl, and kept :
Me feemeth good, that, with fome little train,
3 Forthwith from Ludlow the young prince be fetch'd
Hither to London, to be crown'd our king.

jv. Why with fome little train, my lord of Buck-
ingham ?

Buck. Marry, my lord, left, by a multitude,
The new-heal'd wound of malice fhould break out;
Which would be fo much the more dangerous,
By how much the eftate is green, and yet ungovern'd :
Where every horfe bears his commanding rein,
And may direct his courfe as pleafe himfelf,
As well the fear of harm, as harm apparent,
In my opinipn, ought to be prevented.

Glo. I hope, the king made peace with all of us ;
And the compact is firm, and true, in me.

Riv. And fo in me ; and fo, I think, in all ;
Yet, fince it is but green, it Ihould be put
To no apparent likelihood of breach,
Which, haply, by much company might be urg'd :
Therefore I fay, with noble Buckingham,
That it is meet fo few fhould fetch the prince.

3 Fortfnvitb from Ludlcrjj the young prince le fetci'd] Edward
the young prince, in his father's lifetime, and at his demifc, kept
his houfticld at Ludlow, as prince of Wales ; under the govern-
ance of Antony Woodville, earl of Rivers, his uncle by the
mother's fide. The intention of his being fent thither was to fee
juftice done in the Marches ; and, by the authority of his pre-
fence, to reftrain the Welfiimen, who were wild, diflblute, and
ill-djfpofed, from their accuftomed murders and outrages. Vid.
pall, Holinflied, &c. THEOBALD.

60 KING RICHARD III.

Haft. And fo fay I.

Gb. Then be it fo ; and go we to determine
Who they lhall be that ftraight fhall poll to Ludlow,
Madam, and yon my mother, will you go
To give your cenfures 4 in this weighty buiinefs ?

[Exeunt ueen, &c?

Manent Buckingham^ and Glojier.

Buck. My lord, whoever journeys to the prince,
For God's fake, let not us two flay at home :
For, by the way, I'll fort occafion,
As index to the flory we late talk'd of s >
To part the queen's proud kindred from the prince,

Gb. My other felf, my counfel's confiftory,
My oracle, my prophet ! My dear coufin,
I, as a child, will go by thy direction.
Towards Ludlow then, for we'll not ftay behind.

[Exeunt.

* your cenfures ] TO cenfure formerly meant

liver an opinion. So, in Heywood's Golden Age^ 1611;

, *' yet if I cenfure freely,

*^ I needs muft think that face and perfonage
" Was ne'er deriv'd from bafenefs."
Again, in Marlus and Sylla t 1594:

** Cinna affirms the fenate's cenfure juft,
"And faith, let Marius lead the legions forth.**
Again, in Orlando Furiofo^ 1 594. :

** Set each man forth his paflions how he can,
" And let her cenfure make the happieft man."

STEEVEN^
5 rilfort occajion.

As index to the fiery]
\. e. preparatory by way of prelude. So, in Hamlet :

44 That ftorms fo loud and thunders in the index"
See the note on that paflage. MALONE.

SCENE

KING RICHARD IIL 61

SCENE III.

A Jlreet near the court.
Enter two Citizens, meeting.

1 Cit. Good morrow, neighbour : Whither away

fo faft ?

2 Cit. I promife you, I hardly know myfelf ;
Hear you the news abroad ?

1 Cit. Yes, that the king is dead.

2 Cit. Ill news, by'r lady ; feldom comes a better :
I fear, I fear, 'twill prove a giddy world.

Enter another Citizen.

3 Cit. Neighbours, God fpeed !

1 Cit. Give you good morrow, fir.

3 Cit. Doth the news hold of good king Edward's
death ?

2 Cit Ay, fir, it is too true ; God help, the while !

3 Cit. Then, matters, look to fee a troublous world.

1 Cit. No, no ; by God's good grace, his fon ftiall

reign.

3 Cit. Woe to that land, that's e;overn'd by a
child 6 !

2 Cit. In him there is a hope of government ;
7 That, in his nonage, council under him,
And, in his full and ripen'd years, himfelf,

No doubt, lhall then, and 'till then, govern welL

' Woe to that land that's governed by a child !~\

" Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child."

Ecclefiaftes, ch. x. STEEVENS.

7 Which in his nonage, ] -The word .which has no ante-
cedent, nor can the fenfe or connection be eafily reftored by any
change.^ I believe a line to be loft, in which ibme mention was
made of the land or t\\e people. JOHNSON.
The quarto reads, that. STEE,V^NS.

i Cit.

62 KING RICHARD 111.

i Cit. So flood the flate, when Henry the fixth
Was crown'd in Paris but at nine months old.

3 Cit. Stood the ftate fo ? no, no, good friends,

God wot ;

For then this land was famoufly enrich'd
With politick grave connfel ; then the king
Had virtuous uncles to protect his grace.

i Cit. Why, fo hath this, both by his father and
mother.

3 Cit. Better it were, they all came by his father ;
Or, by his father, there were none at all :
For emulation now, who lhall be neareft,
Will touch us all too near, if God prevent not.
O, full of danger is the duke of Glofler ;
And the queen's fons, and brothers, haught and

proud :

And were they to be rul'd and not to rule,
This fickly land might folace as before.

1 Cit. Come, come, we fear the worft ; all will be

well.
3 Cit. When clouds are feen, wife men put on their

, cloaks ;

When great leaves fall, then winter is at hand ;
When the fun fets, who doth not look for night ?
Untimely ftorms make men expedt a dearth :
All may be well ; but, if God fort it fo,
'Tis more than we deferve, or I expect.

2 Cit. Truly, the hearts of men are full of fear :
You cannot reafon almoft with a man

That looks not heavily, and full of dread*

3 Git. Before the days of change 8 , ftill is it fo :
By a divine inftinct, men's minds miftruft
Enftring danger ; as, by proof, we fee

8 Before the days of change, &c.] This is from Holinflied's
Chronicle, Vol. III. p. 721. " Before fuch great things, men's
hearts ot a fecret inftinft of nature mifgive them ; as the fea
without wind fwelleth of himfejf fome time before a tempeft."

TOLLET.

The

KING RICHARD III. 63

The water fwell before a boift'rous ftorm.
But leave it all to God. Whither away ?

2 Cit. Marry, we were fent for to the juftices.

3 Cit. And fo was I ; I'll bear you company.

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV.

A room in the palace.

Enter Archbijhop of York, the young Duke of York, the
Queen, and the Dutchefs of Tork.

Arch. Laft night, I heard, they lay at Northampton ;
At Stony-Stratford they do reft to-night :
To-morrow, or next day, they will be here.

Dutch. I long with all my heart to fee the prince ;
I hope, he is much grown iince laft I faw him.

Queen. But I hear, no ; they fay, my fon of York
Has almoft overta'en him in his growth.

York. Ay, mother, but I would not have it fo.

Dutch. Why, my young coufin ? it is good to grow.

York. Grandam, one night as we did fit at fupper,
My uncle Rivers talk'd how I did grow
More than my brother; Ay, quoth my uncle Glofter,
Small herbs have grace, great 'weeds do grow apace :
And fince, methinks, I would not grow fo faft,
Becaufe fweet flowers are flow, and weeds make hafte.

Dutch. Good faith, good faith, the faying did not

hold

In him that did object the fame to thee :
He was 9 the wretched'ft thing, when he was young,
So long a growing, and fo leifurely,
That, if his rule were true, he Ihould be gracious.

Arch. And fo, no doubt, he is, my gracious madam.

9 the wretched'ft //,] Wretched is here ufed in

a fenfe yet retained in familiar language, for f>ahrj t pitiful, be-
ing below expectation. JOHNSON.

Dutch.

64 KING RICHARD III.

Dutch. I hope, he is ; but yet let mothers doubt;

York. Now, by my troth, if I had ' been remem-

ber'd,

I could have given my uncle's grace a flout,
To touch his growth, nearer than he touch'd mine.

Dutch. How, my young York > I pr'ythee, let me
hear it.

York. Marry, they fay, my uncle grew fo faft,
That he could gnaw a crufl at two hours old ;
'Twas full two years ere I could get a tooth.
Grandam, this would have been a biting jeft.

Dutch. I pr'ythee, pretty York, who told thec this ?

York. Grandam, his nurfe.

Dutch. His nurfe ! why, flie was dead ere thou waft
born.

York. If 'twere not me, I cannot tell who told me.

<$ueen. A parlous boy * : Go to, you are too
ihrewd.

'Dutch. Good madam, be not angry with the child*

Queen. Pitchers have ears.

Enter a Meffenger '.

Arch. Here comes a meflenger : What news ?

Mef. Such news, my lord, as grieves me to unfold.

Queen. How doth the prince ?

Me/. Well, madam, and in health.

Dutch. What is thy news ?

Mef. Lord Rivers, and lord Grey,
Are fent to Pomfret, prifoners ; and, with them,
Sir Thomas Vaughan.

1 " been remembered, ] To le remembered is in Shakefpeare, to
have one's memory quick, to have one's thoughts about one.

JOHXSON.

* A parlous Icy.} Parlous is keen, flirevvd. So, in La-iv Tricks t
&C. 1608 :

" A^<7r/0aj youth, fliarp and fatirical." STEEVENS.
3 Enter a Meffcngcr. The quarto reads Enter Dorfet.

STEEVENS.

Dutch.

KING RICHARD III. 65

Dutch. Who hath committed them ?

Mef. The mighty dukes, Glofler, and Bucking-
ham.

Queen. 4 For what offence ?

Mef. The fum of all I can, I have difclos'd ;
Why, or for what, the nobles were committed,
Is all unknown to me, my gracious lady.

Queen. A\\ me, I fee the ruin of my houfe !
The tyger now hath feiz'd the gentle hind ;
Infulting tyranny begins to jut
Upon the innocent and 6 awlefs throne :
Welcome deftruction, blood, and maffacre !
I fee, as in a map, the end of all.

Dutch. Accurfed and unquiet wrangling days !
How many of you have mine eyes beheld ?
My hufband loft his life to get the crown ;
And often up and down my fons were toft,
For me to joy, and weep, their gain, and lofs :
And being feated, and domeftick broils
Clean over-blown, themfelves, the conquerors,
Make war upon themfelves ; brother to brother,
Blood to blood, felf againft felf : O, prepofterous
And frantick outrage, end thy damned fpleen ;
7 Or let me die, to look on death no more !

4 For what offence?] This queftion is given to the archbifliop
in former copies, but the meflenger plainly fpeaks to the queen
or dutchefs. JOHNSON.

6 ai'.'ic/s ] Not producing awe, not reverenced. To
jut upon is to encroach. JOHNSON.

7 Or let me die, to look on earth no more.~\ This is the reading of
nil the copies, from the firft edition put out by the players, down-
wards. But I have reftored the reading of the old quarto in 1 597,
which is copied by all the other authentic quartos, by which the
thought is finely and properly improved.

Or let me die, to look on death no wore. THEOBALD.
This quarto printed in i 597 I have never feen, neither was it
in Theobald's collection of the old copies, which the late Mr.
Tonfon poflefled entire. STHEVENS.

VOL. VII, F

66 KING RICHARD III.

Queen. Come, come, my boy, we will to fenc-

tuary.
Madam, farewel.

Dutch. Stay, I will go with you.

Queen. You have no caufe.

Arch. My gracious lady, go.,
And thither bear your treafure and your goods.
For my part, I'll reiign unto your grace
The feal I keep ; And fo betide to me,
As well I tender you, and all of yours !
Come, I'll conduct you to the fanctuary. [Exeunt.

ACT III. SCENE I.

In London.

The trumpets found. Enter the Prince of Wales, the
Dukes of Glojler and Buckingham, Cardinal Bourchier,
and others.

Buck. Welcome, fweet prince, to London, 8 to

your chamber.
Glo. Welcome, dear coufin, my thoughts' fove-

reign :
The weary way hath made you melancholy.

Prince. No, uncle ; but our croffes on the way
Have made it tedious, wearifome, and heavy :
I want more uncles here to welcome me.

Glo. Sweet prince, the untainted virtue of your
years

8 * toy our chamber.] London was anciently called Ca'
trier regia. POPE.

So, in Heywood's If you knoi': not me you know Nobody , 1633 :
2d Pai;t :

** This city, our great cbaml>.r" S TEE YENS.

' Hath

KING RICHARD III. 67

Hath not yet div'd into the world's deceit :

No more can you diftinguifh of a man,

Than of his outwacd fhew ; which, God he knows,

Seldom, or never, jumpeth with the heart 9 .

Thofe uncles, which you want, were dangerous ;

Your grace attended to their fugar'd words,

But look'd not on the poifon of their hearts :

God keep you from them, and from fuch falfe

friends !
Prince. God keep me from falfe friends ! but they

were none.
Glo. My lord, the mayor of London comes to

greet you,

Enter the Lord Mayor, and his train,
Myor. God blefs your grace with health and hap-

py days 1
ince. I

Prince. I thank you, good my lord ; and thank

you all.

I thought, my mother, and my brother York,
Would long ere this have met us on the way :
Fie, what a Hug is Haftings ! that he comes not
To tell us, whether they will come, or no.

Enter Haftings.

Buck. And, in good time T , here comes thefweating

lord.

Prince. Welcome, my lord : What, will our mo-
ther come ?

Haft. On what occafion, God he knows, not I,
The queen your mother, and your brother York,
Have taken fanctuary : The tender prince

' jumpeth *xitb the heart:]. So, in Soliman andPerfeda:

" Wert thou try friend, thy mind would jump with mine."

STEEVENS.
* ' " in good time )~\ A la bonne heure. Fr. STEEVENS.

F a Would

68 KING RICHARD III.

Would fain have come with me to meet your grace,
But by his mother was perforce withheld.

Buck. Fie ! what an indirect and peevifh courfe
Is this of hers ? Lord cardinal, will your grace
Perfuade the queen to fend the duke of York
Unto his princely brother prefently ?
If flie deny, lord Hailings, you go with him,
And from her jealous arms pluck him perforce.

Card. My lord of Buckingham, if my weak oratory
Can from his mother win the duke of York,
Anon cxpedt him here : But if flie be obdurate
To mild entreaties, God in heaven forbid
We mould infringe the holy privilege
Of blefled fanctuary ! not for all this land,
Would I be guilty of fo deep a fin,

Buck. You are too fcnfelefs-obftinate, my lord,
* Too ceremonious, and traditional :
J Weigh it but with the groffnefs of this age,

4 Too ceremonious, ^/traditional :] Ceremonious for fu peril i-
tious ; traditional for adherent to old cuftoms. WARBURTON.

3 Weigh it but with the grollhefs of this age,] But the moregrofs,
that is, the more iuperititious the age was, the ftronger would
be the imputation o I violated fan&uary. The queftion, we fee
by what follows, is whether fan&uary could be claimed by an in-
fant. The fpeaker refolves it in the negative, becaufe it could be
claimed by thofe only whole actions neceffitated them to fly thi-
ther ; or by thofe who had an understanding to demand it ; nei-
ther of which could be an inhmt's cafe : It is plain then, the fidt
line, which introduces this reafoning, mould be read thus :

Weigh it but with tie greennefs of his age,

i, c. the young duke of York's, whom his mother had fled with
to fandtuary. The corrupted reading of the old quarto is fome-
thing nearer the true :

the greatnefs of his age. WAR BUR TON.
This emendation is received by Hanmer, and is very plaufiblci
yet the common reading may ftand :

Weigh it but with the groffnefs of this age,

You break not fanEluary ,-

That is, compare the act of feizing him with tliegrofs and licen-
tious practices of tbtfi times, it will not be confidered as a viola-
tion of faoftuary, for you may give fucli reafcms as men are now
ttfed to admit. JOHNSOXI

You

KING RICHARD III. 69

You break not fanftuary in feizing him.

The benefit thereof is always granted

To thofe whofe dealings have dcferv'd the place,

And thofe who have the wit to claim the place :

This prince hath neither claim J d it, nor deferv'dit;

Therefore, in mine opinion, cannot have it :

Then, taking him from thence, that is not there,

Your break no privilege nor charter there.

Oft have I heard of fanctuary men 4 ;

But fandtuary children, ne'er 'till now.

Card. My lord, you fhall o'er-rule my mind for

once.
Come on, lord Haftings, will you go with me ?

Haft. I go, my lord.

Prince. Good lords, make all the fpeedy hafle you
may. [Exeunt Cardinal, and Haft ings.

Say, uncle Glofter, if our brother come,
Where fhall we fojourn 'till our coronation ?

Glo. Where it feems befl unto your royal felf.
If I may counfel you, fome day, or two,
Your highnefs lhall repofe you at the Tower :
Then where you pleafc, and fhall be thought mod fit
For your befl health and recreation.

Prince. I do not like the Tower, of any place :
Did Julius Casfar build that place, my lord ?

Glo. He did, my gracious lord, begin that place ;
Which, fince, fucceeding ages have re-edify'd.

Prince. Is it upon record ? or elfe reported
Succcffively from age to age, he built it ?

Buck. Upon record, my gracious lord.

Prince. But fay, my lord, it were not regifter'd ;
Methinks-, the truth fhould live from age to age,

* Oftbavelbeardoffanftuary men\ &c.] Thefe arguments
againft the privilege of fanftuary are taken from fir Tho^ More's

Life of K. EJ-ivard the Fifth, publifhed by Stowe : " And

verily, I have often heard of ian&uary men, but I never heard
fan&uary children, &c." STEEVENS.

F a As

7 o KING RICHARD III.

* As 'twere retail'd to all poflcrity,
Even to the general all-ending day.

Qlo. So wife fo young, they fay, do ne'er live
long 6 . \_4fide.

Prince. What fay you, uncle ?
Glo. I fay, .without characters, fanie lives long.
7 Thus, like the formal vice, Iniquity, ? , c ,
I moralize, two meanings in one word. $ e '

Prince.

5 As 'twere retailed to all pojlerity ,] And fo it is : and, by that
means, like mofl other retailed things, became adulterated. We
fliould read :

intail'd to all poflcrity ;

which is finely and fenfibly exprefied, as if truth was the natural
inheritance of our children ; which it is impiety to deprive them
qf. WARBURTON.

Retailed may fignify diffufed, difperfed. JOHNSON.

6 So wife, &c.]

Is cadlt antefenem, quifapit ante diem t
a proverbial line.

* Nov. 2!, 1576, was enter'd on the books of the Stationers*
Company, ** Carminum proverbialium totius humans vitas, loci
Communes." From this collection, perhaps, the pentameter,
which I have quoted from memory, 1 is derived. STEEVENS.
7 Thus, like the formal vice, Iniquity,

I moralize t"jjo meanings in one ivord, ~\

By vice, the author means not a quality, but aperfon. There was
hardly an old play, till the period of the Reformation, which had
not in it a devil, and a droll character, a jefter ; (who was to play
upon the devil ;) and this buffoon went by the name of a f^icc.
Tliia buffoon was at full accoutred with a long jerkin, a cap with
a pair of als's ears, and a wooden dagger, with which (like an-
other av'equin) he was to make fport in belabouring the devil.
This was the conilant entertainment in the times of popery, whilit
fpirirs, and witchcraft, and exorcifmg held their own. When the
P -nation took place, the flage fhook off fome groffities, and
encreafed in refinements. The mafter-devil then was foon dif-
jnifTed from the fcene ; and this buffoon was changed into a fub-
ordiuate fiend, whofe bufinefs *vas to range on earth, and feduce
poor mortals into that perforated vicious quality, which he occa-
fionally fupported ; as, i,-ii^\l:y in general, lypocrtfy , -afury, va-
nity, -prodlgfility, gluttony, &c. Now, as the fiend (or Wo-,) who
perfonated Iniquity (or H) pocrify, for inftance,) could never hope
to play his game to the purpofe but by hiding his cloven foot,
fcnd afiuming a fen.blance q^uite different from his real character ;

he

KING RICHARD III. ?I

Prince. That Julius CWar was a famous man ;
With what his valour did enrich his wit,

His

he muft certainly put on a formal demeanour, moralize and pre-
varicate in his words, and pretend a meaning directly oppofite to
\i\sgenuine K\\& primitive intention. If this does not explain the
pafliigein quelHon, 'tis all that I can at prefent fuggeft upon it.

THEOBALD,

Thus, like the formal vice, Iniquity,
I moralize fovo meanings in oneivord.]

That the buffoon, or jefter of the old Englifh farces, was called
the vice, is certain : and that, in their moral reprefentations, it
was common, to bring in the deadly fins, is as true. Of thefe we '
have yet feveral remains. But that the vice ufed to a flu me the
perfonage of thole fins, is a fancy of Mr. Theobald's, who knew
nothing of the matter. The truth is, the vice was always a fool
or jefter : And, (as the woman, in the Merchant of Venice, calls
the clown, alluding to this character,) a merry devil. Whereas
thefe mortal fins were fo many fad ferious ones. But what milled
our editor was the name, Iniquity, given to this vice : But it was
only on account of his unhappy tricks and rogueries. That it
was given to him, and for the reafon I mention, appears from the
following paflage of Jonfon's Staple of Neves, fecoud intermeane ;
*' M. H'Jtv like you the vice i the play ?
*' T. Here if never a fiend to carry bim away. Befides he has

never a wooden dagger.

" M. That --Mas the old ivay,gojf:p, ivhen Iniquity came in, like

Hocas Pocas, in a jagler's jerkin, iuith falfe Jkirts, like the knave

of clubs."

And, in The DeviFs an Afs, we fee this old vice, Iniquity, de-
fcribed more at large.

From all this, it may be gathered, that the text, where Rich-
ard compares himfelf to the formal vice, Iniquity, muft be cor-
rupt : And the interpolation of fome toolifli player. The vicc t
or iniquity being not a formal but a merry, buffoon char rcter.
Befides, Shakefpeare could never make an exact fpeaker refer to
this character, becaufe the fubjecl he is upon is tradition and an-
tiqnity, which have no relation to it ; and becaufe it appears from
the turn of the paflage, that he is apologizing for his equivoca-
tion by a refutable practice. To keep the reader no longer in
fufpence, my conjecture is, that Shakefpeare wrote and pointed
the lines in this manner :

Thus like the formal-wife Antiquity,
I moralize : Tkva meaning in one <v:ord

Alluding to the mythologic learning cf the antients, of whom
they arc all here fpeaking. So that Richard's ironical apology

72 KING RICHARD III,

His wit fet down to make his valour live :'
Death makes no conqueit of this conqueror ;

For

is to this effect, You men of morals who fo much extol your all-
wife antiquity, in what am I inferior to it ? which was but an
equivocator as I am. And it is remarkable, that the Qreeks
themfelves called their remote antiquity, Aip/o^S- or the ctjui-
uocator. So far as to the general fenfe ; as to that which ariics
particularly out ot the corrected expreffion, I {hall only obferve,
tixsA formal-wife is a compound epithet, an extreme fine one, and
admirably fitted to the character ot the fpeaker, who thought all
luifdom \t\\t formality. It muft therefore be read for the future
with a hyphen. My other obfervation is with regard to the
pointing ; the common reading:

/ moralize i'MO meanings

is nonfenfe : but reformed in this manner, very fenfible :
Thui like the formal-wife Antiquity
I moralise : Two meanings in one word.

i.e. I moralize as the antients did. And how was that? the
having two meanings to one word. A ridicule on the morality
of the antients, which he infinuates was no better than equivo-
cating. WAR EUR TON.

This alteration Mr. Upton very juftly cenfures. Dr. Warbur-
ton, has, in my opinion, done nothing but correct the punctua-
tion, if indeed any alteration be really neceflary. See the difler-
tation on the old vice at the end of this play.

To this long collection of notes may be added a queftion, to
what equivocation Richard refers ? The pofition immediately
preceding, \\\<& fame lives long vjithout characters, that is, without
the help of letters, feems to have no ambiguity. He muft allude
to the former line :

So young fo wife, they fay, did ne'er live long,
in which he conceals under -a proverb, his defign of haftening the
prince's death. JOHNSON.

From the following fiage direction, in an old dramatic piece,
entituled, H:Jiriot:;aJiix t or the Player ivhipt, 1610, it appears,
that the Fife and Iniquity were fometimes d^ftinct perfonages :

** Enter a roaring devil, with the Vice on his back, Iniquity in.

one hand, and Juventus in the other."
The devil likewile makes the diflinction in his firft fpcech :
" //<?, l>o, bo ! tbffe lobes mine are all,
" The rice, Iniquitic, and child prodigal"

The following part of this note was obligingly communicated
by the rev. Mr. Bowie, of Idmeflone near Salifbury. I know-
no writer who gives fo complete an account of this obfolete cha-
jradter, as archbifhop Harfnet, in his Declaration of Popijh Im-

KING RICHARD III. 73

For now he lives in fame, though not in life,
I'll tell you what, my coufin Buckingham.

Buck. What, my gracious lord ?

Prince. An if I live until I be a man,
I'll win our ancient right in France again,
Or die a foldier, as I liv'd a king.

Glo. Short fummers 8 lightly have a forward fpring.

Enter York, He/lings, and the Cardinal*

Buck. Now, in good time, here comes the duke of
York.

Prince. Richard of York ! how fares our loving
brother ?

York. Well, my 9 dread lord ; fo mufl I call you
now.

Prince. Ay, brother; to our grief, as it is yours :
' Too late he died, that might have kept that title,
Which by his death hath loft much majeily.

Glo. How fares our coufin, noble lord of York ?

York. I thank you, gentle uncle. O, my lord,
You faid, that idle weeds are fail in growth :
The prince my brother hath outgrown me far.

Glo. He hath, my lord.

York. And therefore is he idle ?

poftures, p. 114, Lond. 1603 : " It was a pretty part (he tells us)
in the old church playes, when the nimble Vice would fldp up
nimbly like a jackanapes into the devil's necke, and ride the de-
vil a courfe, and belabour him with his wooden dagger, till he
made him roare, whereat the people would laugh to fee the devil
fo vice- haunted.'' STEEVENS.

s lightly ] Cpmmonly, in ordinary courfe. JOHNSON.

So, in the old proverb : " There's lightning lightly before thun-
der." See Ray's Proverbs, p. 130. edit. ^d. STEEVENS.

9 dread lord ; ] The original of this epithet

applied to kings has been much difputed. In fome of our old
Itatutes, the king is called Rex metuendiffimus. JOHNSON.

* Too late be died, ] i. e. too lately, the lofs is too frefh

jn our memory. But the Oxford editor makes him fay :
Top foon be died < < WA R B u R TON .

O, my

y 4 KING RICHARD III.

Glo. O, my fair coufin, I muft not fay fo.
Tork. Then is he more beholden to you, than I.
Glo. He may command me, as my fovereign ;
But you have power in me, as in a kinfman.
Tork. I pray you, uncle, give me this dagger.
Glo. My dagger, little coulin ? with all my heart.
Prince. A beggar, brother ?

Tork. Of my kind uncle, that I know will give ;
And, being but. a toy, which is no gift to give z .
Glo. A greater gift than that I'll give my coufin.
Tork. A greater gift ! O, that's the fword to it ?
Glo. Ay, gentle coufin, were it light enough.
Tork. O then, I fee, you'll part but with light

_ gifts ;

In weightier things you'll fay a beggar, nay.
Glo. It is too weighty for your grace to wear.
Tork. * I weigh it lightly, were it heavier.
Glo. What, would you have my weapon, little

lord ?
Tork. I would, that I might thank you as you call

me.

Glo. How?
Tork. Little.

Prince. My lord of York will ftill be crofs in talk ;-
Uncle, your grace knows how to bear with him.

* And, leing lut a toy, ivbich is no gift to give.] This is the
reading of the quartos ; the firft folio reads :

And, Icing but a toy, ivhicb is no grief to give.
This reading, made a little more metrical, has been followed, I
think erroneoully, by all the editors. JOHNSON.
The quarto 1612 reads :

no grief STEEVENS.

3 I weigh it lightly, &c.] i.e. I fhould ftill efteem it but a tri-
fling gift, were it heavier. But the Oxford editor reads :

I'd ~wcigh it lightly, *
i. e. I could manage it, tho' ic were heavier. WAR BURTON".

Dr. Warburton is right. So, in Love's Labours Loft, aft V.
ic. ii :

" You iveigb me not, O that's you care not for me."

STEEVENS.

Tork,

KING RICHARD III. 75

Tork. You mean, to bear me, not to bear with

me :

Uncle, my brother mocks both you and me ;
3 Bccaufe that I am little 'ike an ape,
He thinks that you Ihould bear me on your ihoulders.

Buck. With what a Iharp-provided wit he reafons !
To mitigate the fcorn he gives his uncle,
He prettily and aptly taunts himfelf :
So cunning, and fo young, is wonderful.

do. My lord, will't pleafe you pals along ? ,
Myfeif, and my good coufin Buckingham,
Will to vour mother ; to entreat of her,
To meet you at the Tower, and welcome you.

York. What, will you go unto the Tower, my lord ?

Prince. My lord protestor needs will have it fo.

Tork. I ihall not ileep in quiet at the Tower.

Glo. Why, what fhould you fear ?

Tork. Marry, my uncle Clarence' angry ghoft ;
My grandam told me, he was murther'd there.

Prince. I fear no uncles dead.

Glo. Nor none that live, I hope.

Prince. An if they live, I hope, I need not fear.
But come, .my lord, and, with a heavy heart,
Thinking on them, go I unto the Tower.

[Exeunt Prince, Tork, Ha/lings, Cardinal and attendants.

Buck. Think you, my lord, this little prating

'York

Was not incenfed by his fubtle mother,
To taunt and fcorn you this opprobrioufly ?

3 Bccai/fe that lam little like an afe,~\ The reproach feems to
confilt in this : at country fhews it was common to fet the mon-
key on the back of fome other animal, as a bear. The duke
therefore, in calling himfelf d^V, calls his uncle bear. JOHXSON.
To this cuflom there feems to be an allufion in Ben Jonfon'a
of Gypjics :

" A gypfy in his fhape,

" More calls the beholder,

*' Than the fellow with the ape,

** Or 't'be ape on hisfiottlder" STEEVENS.

Glo<

76 KING RICHARD III.

Glo. No doubt, no doubt : O, 'tis a parlous boy ;
Bold, quick, ingenious, fprward, capable ;
He's all the mother's, from the top to toe.

Buck. Well, let them reft. Come hither, Catefby ;

thou art fworn

As deeply to effed: what we intend,
As clofely to conceal what we impart :
Thou know'ft our reafons urg'd upon the way ; .
What think'ft thou ? is it not an eafy matter
To make William lord Haftings of our mind,
For the inftalment of this noble duke
In the feat royal of this famous ifle ?

Catef. He for his father's fake fo loves the prince,
That he will not be won to aught againft him.

Buck. What think'ft thou then of Stanley ? will
not he ?

Catef. He will do all in all as Haftings doth.

Buck. Well then, no more but this: Go,, gentle

Catefby,

And, as it were far off, found thou lord Haftings,
How he doth ftand affected to our purpofe ;
And fummon him to-morrow to the Tower,
To fit about the coronation.
If thou doft find him tractable to us,
Encourage him, and tell him all our reafons :
If he be leaden, icy, cold, unwilling,
Be thou fo too ; and fo break off the talk,
And give us notice of his inclination :
For we to-morrow hold ' divided councils,
Wherein thyfelf lhalt highly be employ'd.

Glo. Commend me to lord William : tell him,

Catefby,

His ancient knot of dangerous adverfaries
To-morrow are let blood at Pomfret-caftle ;

* divided councils,] That is, a private confu